LIBRARY OFjCONGRESS. 
Shelf. S>ll £^ 



UNITEDnfSTATES} OF AMERICA 




W.H Dout 









7 



Ci/^jU^L 



(J<_ Ijl 

MEMORIAL SKETCH 



WILLIAM SOULE STICKNEY 






By HIS FATHER. 



FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION. 



/J3 



A youth to whom was given 
So much of earth, so much of Heaven. — Wordsworth. 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 

"SCHOOL OF MUSIC" PRESS. 

1881. 



Y 4 1881 '}, 



* — — ft_ ^ — 8 



* 



■3< 



THE LIBRARY 
OF CONGRESS 

WASHINGTON 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, 

By William Stickney, 
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



PRINTED AT THE "SCHOOL OF MUSIC, 

707 Eighth street, N. ir., 
Washington, District of Columbij 



* 



* 



■© 



IN MEMORY OF 

WILLIAM SOULE STICKNEY 

Who Died in Los Pinos, Colorado, 

July 20, 1880, 

while serving as secretary and disbursing officer 
of the ute commission. 



06 diaxovy&?jvaif aXXa Staxov7/<jai. 
Not to be ministered to, but to minister. — Matthew, 20: 28. 

< Hyeiro yap abrwv exaaroq ob%\ rcD Tcarp) xal ry p.T]rp\ p.6vov 
yeye>7i(7^ac^ akka xal r9j izarpidt. 

For each of them considered that not for his father and mother only 
was he born, but for his fatherland. 

— Demosthenes, "De Corona." 



*■ 



* 



I* : ; A 



INTRODUCTION. 

Or dost thou warn poor mortals left behind, 
A task well suited to thy gentle mind? 
Oh, if sometimes thy spotless form descend, 
To me thine aid, thou guardian genius, lend. 
When rage misguides me, or when fear alarms, 
When pain distresses, or when pleasure charms, 
In silent whisperings purer thoughts impart, 
And turn from ill a frail and feeble heart ; 
Lead through the paths thy virtue trod before, 
Till bliss shall join, nor death can part us more. 

Ticke*ll. 



■* 



*■ 



INTRODUCTION. 



To the Members of the Calvary Baptist, 
Calvary Mission, and Kendall Chapel 
Sunday Schools. 

Dear Friends — 

The warm affection cherished by 
you towards my beloved son, and the absorb- 
ing interest he felt in the prosperity of these 
three schools, with which he had been so 
long identified, have prompted me to place 
before you, principally by means of his own 
writings, the gradual development of a char- 
acter, the possession of which in such sym- 
metry and beauty made him so great a fa- 
vorite with his friends, and won for him "a 
good testimony from those without." Two 
motives control me: first, a desire to perpet- 
uate his memory; secondly, the hope that 
a study of his many virtues, noble spirit, 
and self-sacrificing devotion to the cause of 
Christianity, may lead you — and all who may 
peruse this volume — to the Source and Inspi- 
ration of his life, that you too may cultivate 
those manly qualities of head and heart, 
which were so conspicuous in him. 

My object has not been to write a pane- 
gyric. You who knew him best will agree 



Reasons 
for pub- 
lishing the 
Memoir. 



No need of 
Eulogy. 



%+ 



t; 



* 



MEMOIR OP W. S. STICKNBY. 



* 



Reasons 
for insert- 
ing letters 
and youth- 
ful compo- 
sitions. 



Desire of 
friends for 
some me- 
mento. 



with our worthy Pastor: "He needs no eulo- 
gy; his record is his best eulogy." 

I scarcely need disclaim, in the prepara- 
tion of this imperfect sketch, any attempts at 
literary excellence in style or composition; 
nor perhaps is it necessary to apologize for 
the insertion of letters, youthful composi- 
tions, or other matters, which, to a general 
reader, might appear too trivial for publica- 
tion. 

As the doll, the top, or other playthings 
of childhood are invested with an interest 
almost sacred in the eyes of the parent, after 
their dear ones have been removed by death, 
so to me, and I doubt not, to some extent, at 
least, to you also, the letters, words, and acts 
of our dear one, of little significance it may 
be, when written, spoken, or performed, are 
now recalled with tender interest, and are 
enshrined in the memory as precious treas- 
ures. 

Many of you have asked for some me- 
mento of our dear boy. Accept this Memorial 
Sketch of his life with the earnest desire that 
its perusal may not only recall to your mem- 
ory his manly form, cheerful countenance, 
courteous bearing, Christian spirit, unselfish 



* 



*■ 



* 



INTRODUCTION. 



devotion to the happiaess of others, purity of 
heart and life, but also inspire and nurture 
in you a resolute purpose, by God's help, to 
leave behind a memory equally fragrant in 
kind words and good deeds. 



* 



n< 



IK — * 



CHAPTER I. 

BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD. 

Heaven lies about us m our infancy. — Wordsworth. 

Yet hath thy spirit left on me 

An impress Time has worn not out, 

And something of myself in thee, 

A shadow from the past, I see, 

Lingering, even yet, thy way about : 

Not wholly can the heart unlearn 

That lesson of its better hours, 

Not yet has Time's dull footsteps worn 

To common dust that path of flowers. — Whittier. 




WHDougal Sc 



OUR PET " 

in i In i mi i f , ,/< year 



* 



* 



BIRTH. 



13 



^tf^TILLIAM SOULE STICKNEY, son of 
Zgp William and Jeannie K. Stickney, 
was born at the residence of his grandfather, 
Amos Kendall, in the "old house" at Kendall 
Green, District of Columbia, October 24, 1852. 

This property, with the farm, was subse- 
quently purchased by the Government for 
the use of the Deaf and Dumb Institution. 

On his father's side he was a descendant 
of William Stickney, who emigrated to Mas- 
sachusetts in 1636 from the town of Stickney 
on the eastern coast of England. 

His progenitor on his mother's side came 
from the town of Kendall, — derived from 
Kent's dale, — a city of considerable impor- 
tance in England. 

His middle name was the maiden name 
of his grandmother Stickney. 

The second and only other child of his 
parents was born in 1854 and died at the age 
of six months. 

The day of Will's birth was the day on 
which America's greatest statesman died. 
This coincidence was sometimes pleasantly 
referred to as a favorable omen that the 
mantle of the great Daniel Webster would 
fall on his shoulders. 



>fr 



Birth. 



Ancestors. 



* 



# 



* 



14 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Obedience 

to parents. 



Though he was an only child, and the 
pride of his parents, they were never so in- 
dulgent as to permit him to grow up without 
seeking to instil into his young mind and 
heart those principles of obedience, and re- 
spect for their wishes, which they considered 
essential to a true and manly character. 

From early childhood it was his mother's 
habit to pray daily with and for him, he 
following with a prayer of his own. This 
practice was continued until he left home for 
school, and we believe was blessed to his 
good. 

Two or three times only did his mother 
have occasion to use the rod, and in each 
instance the punishment was occasioned by 
disobedience. The last time resort was had 
to this method of discipline was when Will 
was four or five years of age. The incident 
illustrates the conscientiousness of the boy — 
always a conspicuous trait in his character. 
Bringing to his mother a little switch, he 
said, in answer to her question of surprise: 
"What shall mamma do with the switch?" 
"Mamma must whip Willie. Mamma said 
I must not eat cherries, and I have been 
eating them." His mother said, Yes, she 



Conscien- 
tiousness. 



* 



*■ 



CHILDHOOD. 



© 



15 



was very sorry, but she would have to whip 
him. After the light punishment, which the 
little fellow received without a tear, he de- 
sired her to kneel down and ask God to for- 
give him, which she did. Then he followed 
in a sweet, childish prayer of his own, ask- 
ing his Heavenly Father's forgiveness, after 
which he threw his little arms about his 
mother's neck and sought her forgiveness, 
promising ever after obedience to all her 
wishes. 

The promise was faithfully kept, and the 
sweet spirit of the child was never lost in the 
after life of the youth and the man. 

Another of his noble characteristics which 
endeared him to all who were acquainted with 
his young life and which was a part of his 
nature was the moral courage to stand up 
for the right. This trait exhibited itself 
when he was a child of about nine years. 

The family were accustomed to ride to 
Washington, a distance of about two miles, 
to attend church. Often, when returning 
home, Will would leave the carriage and 
walk, sometimes by fleetness of foot reaching 
his father's house first. One Sabbath, as the 
carriage approached the gate leading to Ken- 



Prayer for 
forgive- 
ness. 



Moral 
courage. 



* 



■* 



* 



16 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Incident. 



Memory of 
the Ser- 
mon on 

the Mount. 



*- 



dall Green, his parents saw him talking ear- 
nestly to three German boys, all considerably 
larger than himself; as the carriage drew 
near these lads walked away. When Will 
was questioned about the matter he said he 
found the boys fighting, and, said he, "Mam- 
ma, I asked them if they did not know it 
was wicked; that God had commanded them 
to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 
Then one of the boys called another a fool, 
and I said to him, Do you know that the 
Bible says, — ' Whosoever says, Thou fool, 
shall be in danger of hell fire.'" This Scrip- 
ture quotation caused them to separate, won- 
dering, probably, at the spirit which pos- 
sessed the little peacemaker. 

More than a year before this incident 
Will had committed to memory the Sermon 
on the Mount which he often repeated with- 
out missing a word. 

The boy was father of the man, for never 
in his after life did he hesitate by word and 
example, manfully and sometimes heroically, 
to express his convictions of what was noble 
and true. 

During this period of his early childhood 
Will, having no young associates, found his 



fl& 



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* 



CHILDHOOD. 



17 



out - door society with his dogs and chickens, 
and occasionally a pet rabbit or squirrel. 

If the colored servants on the place had 
children of about his own age, he loved to 
teach them some Sunday School lesson or 
lead them in singing, with all the gravity of a 
master. Sunday afternoon was the favorite 
time for these exercises. Often have I seen 
him with a class of colored children, some 
older and some younger than himself, trying 
to teach them out of God's Word, earnestly 
exhorting them to be true and honest if they 
would enter heaven. 

His talent for music developed at an 
early age, and at eight years he commenced 
taking lessons on the piano, while pursuing 
the elementary branches of knowledge under 
his parents' instruction. At the age of thir- 
teen he entered the Rittenhouse Academy 
in Washington, for the first time going reg- 
ularly to school. 

About this time the members of the Cal- 
vary Baptist Church were canvassing for sub- 
scriptions for the erection of a house of wor- 
ship. His grandfather asked Will what he 
was going to subscribe. He replied, he had no 
money. On being asked if he would like to 

2 



* 



Playmates- 



Early ef- 
forts to 
teach the 
Word of 
God. 



Talent for 
Music. 



Enters 

Ritten- 

house 

Academy. 



* 



* 



18 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



First mon- 
ey earned. 



Gift for 

building a 

church. 



i-st sick- 
ness. 



Tempera- 
ment. 



earn some for that purpose, he expressed the 
pleasure it would give him to do so. His 
grandfather then promised him five cents for 
every load of gravel he would spread, as the 
hired men were then employed in repairing 
the roads. Will eagerly accepted the propo- 
sition, and soon received a dollar and fifty 
cents, as the pay for his labor, which he 
gladly subscribed and paid into the building 
fund of the church. He said afterwards, 
when thinking of his grandfather's remark, 
"that he owned a brick in the church," he 
"sometimes watched the workmen as they 
prosecuted their labors on the church, and 
wondered which of the bricks was owned by 
him!" 

In the autumn of 1859, Will had his first 
sickness which produced anxiety in the minds 
of his parents. It was a mild form of typhoid 
fever, which confined him to his bed for about 
two weeks. He gradually recovered, but was 
never of a robust constitution. He was pos- 
sessed of a delicate organization, a nervous 
temperament, and keen sensibilities, a gentle 
spirit, sensitive to any intentional wrong, 
and quick to forgive an injury. Though ap- 
plication to study was never disagreeable, he 



1+ 



CHILDHOOD. 



* 



19 



showed no more fondness for books than is 
common among most boys. 

He commenced Latin at nine years, and, 
though his progress was not rapid, he under- 
stood what he went over. Though never 
quick to learn, he yet held fast the ground he 
went over, seldom giving but one perusal of 
his lessons in preparation for review. 

After writing compositions upon "The 
Horse," "The Cow," "The Dog," and "The 
Cat," his next subject was "Life," written at 
the age of nine. I give it precisely as it lies 
before me from his pen: 

~~ LIFE. 

I will tell you something about life. Life 
is long or short whichever God permits. 
Some persons die when babes, others live a 
few years longer, and some to an old age. 
This is a beautiful subject to write about. 

Sometimes people live to a great age. 
Methuselah lived to be nine hundred and 
sixty- nine years. He was the oldest man in 
the world. Many others are mentioned in 
the Bible who lived to a great age. Enoch. 
Noah, and many others. 

What would this world be without life? 



Early com- 
positions. 



On ••Lite. 



* 



20 



■* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Desola- 
tion of 
earthwith- 
out life. 



Life more 
beautiful 
in heaven. 



On kind- 
ness to the 
poor. 



The way t< 
lie kind. 



* 



The trees, flowers, and grass that look so 
beautiful in the spring and summer, all are 
given to us by our Heavenly Father, but do 
not live forever, even they all die. 

Life is very beautiful on earth, but far 
more beautiful in heaven. If you wish to 
reach this happy place, you must not swear, 
nor steal, and God says that he will not have 
liars in heaven. How thankful should we 
be to Him for His goodness to us ! 

Willie Soule Stickney. 

His next composition written January 

15, 1862, 

BE KIND TO THE POOR. 

There are but few people who care for 
the poor. God teaches us to be kind to 
everybody. You must hunt up the poor and 
ask if they wont come with you to church, 
or Sunday- school, and learn to be good. 

You must be kind to the poor and get 
all the old clothes you can and ask your 
neighbors if they have n't some, for many 
are suffering with the cold, and a great 
many poor people die or starve for want of 
care. 

You must look after your own children 



*■ 



* 



CHILDHOOD. 



21 



first, and the poor next, for you must love 
the poor. 

I cannot say much more on this subject, 
but there is one thing I forgot to say about 
the poor, you should visit them when they 
are sick and, if you can, take to them what 
they need to do them good. 

I have now ended my composition. 

W. S. Stickney. 

How he practised in after life these pre- 
cepts of charity and benevolence, they who 
knew him best can testify. 

The following is one of his early letters. 

Washington, April 25, 1863. 
My Dear Father — 

I have looked in the geography, as you 
told me, and have found that the distance 
from the earth to the sun is 95,000,000 of 
miles, and the distance from the earth to the 
moon is 240 thousand miles. 

Geography is a description of the earth's 
surface. The circumference of the earth is 
about 25,000 miles and the diameter of the 
earth is about 8,000 miles. The diameter of 
anything is the distance through it. 



©" 



Early let- 
ters. 



Study of 
geography 



* 



L> 



22 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Letter to 
his grand- 
father. 



*■ 



Day and night are caused by the earth 
going around on its axis. The earth goes 
around on its axis once in 24 hours, and the 
earth goes around the sun once in 365 days 
and 6 hours. The seasons are caused by the 
earth going around the sun with its axis in- 
clined to the plane of its orbit, always point- 
ing to the North Star. 

The shape of the earth is that of an ob- 
late spheroid. 

Father, I studied that, that you told me, 
and then I sat down and wrote this. 

From your affectionate son, 

Willie S. Stickney. 

Kockville, Ct., June 30, 1863. 
Dear Grandpa — 

How are you? and how is grandma? I 
got a nice hat yesterday, and I have a cash - 
book and I expect to send a copy of it soon to 
father. 

Grandpa I am having a nice time up here 
— the mornings are beautiful and pleasant. 

Tell Berta that I will send her a little let- 
ter. I will inclose a little letter to Emilie — 
but grandpa, are they good? for if they aint 
I don't believe I can write them, and is Emi- 



* 



*■ 



* 



CHILDHOOD. 



23 



lie as sweet as ever, for if she is good she 
must be sweet. 

Please tell me how the dogs are, espe- 
cially Zip. 

I want to see every body that I know. 
Tell every body that there is a little boy in 
Rockville that sends his love to them. His 
name is Willie S. Stickney. Write soon. 

From your affectionate grandson, 

Willie S. Stickney. 



The cash account came in his next letter. 
It contains the items for traveling expenses 
to Rockville, with small investments for 
"Oranges," "Candy," "Lickerish," "Contri- 
butions," "Rockets," "Roman Candles," &c, 
written in the round hand of an eleven - year- 
old boy, but balanced to a penny. 

This methodical habit of rendering an 
account to his father for all the moneys re- 
ceived, he carefully adhered to until he fin- 
ished his college course. His accounts are 
models of neatness and accuracy, giving a 
truthful statement of all his expenditures. 

Rockville, July 30, 1868. 
Dear Papa— As I have nothing else to 
do I thought I would write you a few lines. 



Cash ac- 
count 



* 



■* 



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24 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Letter to 
his father. 



Yesterday uncle John put on an old pair 
of boots, and an old shaker hat, and he went 
out and poured some hot water right on a 
swarm of hornets, and I think they are about 
gone now. I have been stung by another 
hornet right on the cheek. 

Witch, a little kitten, ran right through 
a nest of hornets, and then she ran first one 
way, and then another, and then she tumbled 
down stairs, and then she stopped and began 
a scratching, and then a hornet came up be- 
tween her ears and then she ran away. 

But I must stop. Write soon. 
From your affectionate son, 

Willie Soule Stickney. 



& 



gt h 



* 



CHAPTER II. 

A TOUR ABROAD. 

Travel, in the younger soul, is a part of education; in the elder 
a part of experience. He that traveleth into a country before he hath 
some entrance into the language, goeth to school and not to travel. 

When a traveler returneth home, let him not leave the countries 
where he hath traveled altogether behind him. 

Let it appear that he doth not change his country manners for those 
of foreign parts, but only put some flowers of that he hath learned 
abroad into the customs of his own country. — Bacon. 



* 



l<- 



* 



TOUR ABROAD. 



27 




ILL continued his studies, remaining 
at home most of the time until June, 
1866, when, with his parents and grandfather, 
he set out on a sixteen months' tour abroad. 

Taking passage on the favorite Cunard 
steamship Scotia, Captain Judkins, we had a 
most delightful voyage to Queenstown, reach- 
ing that port in eight days and three hours — 
the best time, I think, then made. 

We visited the principal places and ob- 
jects of interest in Ireland, including Blarney 
Castle, Lakes of Killarney, Heart's Content, 
Belfast, Giant's Causeway, Dublin, and nu- 
merous others. Our young traveler entered, 
with all the enthusiasm of youth, into the 
new world which was now opening up to 
him, determined to derive all the intellectual 
and physical benefit possible. Guide-books 
of the places visited were eagerly studied by 
him, and it was to him the rest of the party 
generally appealed for information upon the 
various subjects presented. 

Scotland, with its lakes and cities, castles 
and ruins, its Holyrood and Abbottsford, its 
Stirling and Bannockburn, were all visited 
and carefully studied. Historical informa- 
tion, learned previously and perhaps forgot- 



►fr 



Tour 
alH'oad. 



Study of 
places vis- 
ited. 



* 



*■ 



* 



28 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Europe, 

Asia, and 
Africa. 



'•jB" 



ten, or, if never known before, was now 
gained at every step, and in a way to make 
the most lasting impression upon the mind. 

Will had formed the plan early in our 
travels to procure books that treated particu- 
larly of the subjects or persons for which the 
places visited were celebrated. At Rouen he 
had the life of Joan of Arc; at Pompeii, Bul- 
wer's "Last Days;" at Wittenburg he studied 
Luther; at Constance, Jerome of Prague and 
Huss, and thus he acquired a vast store of 
information to be obtained so effectually in 
no other way. 

All the principal cities in Great Britain, 
France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Holland, 
Italy, Greece, and Turkey, in Europe; Alexan- 
dria, Cairo, the islands of Cyprus and Rhodes, 
the Red Sea, and Isthmus of Suez, in Africa; 
Joppa, Jerusalem, Damascus, the Dead Sea 
and Jordan, and the principal Bible lands in 
Asia were leisurely visited, and many of them 
carefully studied. Every new place was a 
fruitful theme for conversation and reading. 
New sources of knowledge were constantly 
opening up to us, which were explored with 
avidity and delight. 

A winter in Florence gave Will an op- 



* 



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TOUR ABROAD. 



^ 



29 



portunity for taking music lessons under an 
eminent master, and afforded us time for 
studying the Italian tongue. Will and my- 
self regularly recited our lessons, and carried 
on much of our conversation in that language. 
The daily paper we soon learned to read 
without difficulty, and made fair progress in 
conversation. 

In France Will gave himself to the study 
of the French language, which his know- 
ledge of Latin made easy for him to ac- 
quire. 

But it was in Palestine that we entered 
into the highest possible enjoyment of the 
great treasures in store for us. Spending a 
few days at Joppa, we started thence with 
our tents and horses, making the journey in 
the oriental style of the country. 

Leaving Joppa about noon we took an 
easy ride to Ramleh (Arimathea), eighteen 
miles distant, where we arrived in about four 
hours. A ride of eight hours the next day 
brought us to Kirgeth Jarem, where we 
pitched our tents for the night. This place 
we left the next morning about nine, and at 
noon entered the Holy City. 

"Beautiful for situation, the joy of the 



* 



Music les- 
sons in 
Florence. 



Study of 
the Italian 
language. 



Visits Je- 
rusalem. 



* 



* 



* 



30 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Palestine a 
fifth Gos- 
pel. 



Iufiuence 

upon the 

mind. 



t + 



ivhole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of 
the North, the City of the Great King." 

We engaged rooms at a small German 
hotel and gave ourselves up to the enjoyment 
of the wondrous treasures scattered on every 
side. 

Calvary, the Holy Sepulchre, the Pools, 
Olivet, Bethany, Bethlehem, Jordan, Jericho, 
the Dead Sea, Shechem, Shiloh, Bethel, Dam- 
ascus, Beirout, and many other places of 
sacred interest were visited. At every step 
we found the confirmation of the truth of 
the Bible. Palestine seemed a fifth Gospel, 
so abundant were the evidences of the truth 
of the sacred record. 

As the key fits the wards of the lock, 
so everywhere were the most striking and 
convincing proofs of the wonderful events 
narrated in the New Testament. 

Of course upon Will, as upon the rest 
of us, these facts made a deep impression. 
No shadow of doubt existed in our minds, 
after our forty days sojourn in the Holy 
Land, of the reality of all those marvelous 
events so minutely recorded by the Evange- 
lists. It seems as if the very stones at our 
feet cried out in confirmation of them. With 



* 



*■ 



HOME AGAIN. 



31 



* 



our Bibles in our hands we traversed the 
places where the feet of the Son of Man 
had trod, looked upon the scenes upon which 
His eyes had once rested, and came away, 
as fully persuaded as it was possible for us 
to be, of the truths of revelation. 

After visiting Greece, its ruins and its 
Marathon, and Constantinople, we crossed a 
portion of the Black Sea, entered the Danube 
at its mouth, and, through the Iron Gates, 
steamed to Prague, and thence to Vienna. 

In October, 1867, we returned home in 
good health, having given sixteen months 
to travel and visited many of the most in- 
teresting places on the globe. Our pleasure 
had been marred by no accident, and no 
serious sickness disturbed or interrupted our 
enjoyment. 

Eeturning to our home at Kendall Green, 
we were agreeably surprised to find the 
grounds beautifully illuminated, and a trans- 
parency at the gate in burning letters giving 
us a "Welcome Home." 

To each of us the trip had been full of 
pleasure and profit, but it was evident that 
the advantages to Will would be incalcula- 
ble. He had traveled with eyes and ears 



*■ 



Visits 
Greece 

and 
Austria. 



Returns 
home. 



Reception 

at Kendall 

Green. 



Benefits of 
the trip. 



* 



* 



32 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



^< 



Summary 
of places 
visited. 



«+ 



open, had made friends everywhere by his 
intelligence and polite bearing. The drago- 
man in Syria, the Arab guides in Egypt, 
showed in many ways their friendship. He 
had seen the principal galleries of art and 
studied their master -pieces and the lives of 
their authors; had heard the greatest living 
musical performers and studied many of 
their own compositions; had heard England's 
greatest statesmen in the Houses of Parlia- 
ment and her most eminent preachers from 
their own pulpits; had 'seen the leading men 
of France as they stirred their countrymen 
from the Tribune at the Corps Legislatif; 
had visited the venerable and classic seat 
of learning at Oxford; read the Odes of Hor- 
ace among the olives and oleanders of Tivoli 
and the Alban Hills; explored the ruins of 
Caesar's palace; looked upon the glories of 
Mont Blanc and Jungfrau; climbed the Py- 
rennees; crossed the Alps; gazed down the 
crater of Vesuvius; surveyed the Campagna 
from the summit of Brunelleschi's dome; 
threaded the gloomy catacombs of Rome; vis- 
ited the fields of Waterloo and Marathon; 
feasted upon the beauties of the Rhine, of Co- 
mo, and Maggiore; studied the ancient civili- 



* 



*■ 



►B 



AT HOME. 



33 



zation from Egyptian monuments; witnessed 
the splendors of all the principal courts in Eu - 
rope, with their kings and emperors; explored 
the museums, libraries, and galleries of art; 
visited the cathedrals; ventured across the 
Mer de Glace; sat by Jacob's well; traversed 
the valley of Ebal and Gerizim; clambered 
among the ruins of Baalbeck; studied the 
lives of Savonarola, Michael Angelo, and 
Galileo at Florence, "where he stood at night 
to take the vision of the stars"; of Knox at 
Edinburgh; of Calvin and D'Aubigne at Gen- 
eva; of Luther at Wittenberg, Erfurt and 
Wartburg castle; of Zwingle at Zurich; of 
Napoleon and Josephine at Fontainbleau; of 
Frederick and Voltaire at Sans Souci; wit- 
nessed the King's fete at Venice, "the bride 
of the sea"; stood upon the Acropolis; tra- 
versed the Roman forum; and with an intel- 
ligent apprehension of what he had seen, re- 
turned to make his new acquisitions useful in 
the development and growth of his future life. 
Though not at this time a professed 
christian, no one could be more exemplary in 
all the varied and sometimes trying experi- 
ences of this long journey than he. On the 
Sabbath it was our invariable practice to at- 

4 



Observ- 
ance of the 
Sabnath. 



* 



S" 



34 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY 



■» 



Charge of 
the organ 

at 
Florence. 



Growth. 



* 



tend some protestant place of worship, if any 
could be found, and frequently the services 
of the youthful organist would be brought 
into requisition. At Florence, for about two 
months, he had charge of the organ, rehears- 
ing with the choir Saturday nights, and en- 
tering with all his heart into the service. 

In all his conduct he was the faithful, 
conscientious christian, loyal to his Savior, 
unfailing in his daily private devotions, never 
to be tempted to depart from his convictions 
of right and duty, though the example of 
some of his countrymen, who professed more 
than he did, might have been urged as an 
excuse for him. His reverence for the Sab- 
bath was as great in Paris as in Washington. 
He said once he would like very much to see 
the great fountains play at Versailles, but as 
this exhibition was only given on Sunday, 
and to witness it, would involve a Sunday 
journey of twelve miles by rail, he would 
forego the pleasure. 

Such had been his advantages of foreign 
travel. He had grown morally and intel- 
lectually, and returned with good health, 
ready to prosecute his studies with increased 
zest and vigor. 



* 



A 1£ 



CHAPTER III. 



THE WISE AND SUCCESSFUL STUDENT. 

For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight 
of my mother. He taught me also, and sa^d unto me, Let thine heart 
retain my words: keep my commandments and live. Get wisdom, get 
understanding; forget it not; neither decline from the words of my 
mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee; love her, and 
she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; and with all thy 
getting, get understanding. — Proverbs of Solomon. 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and 
all these things shall be added unto you. — Matthew, 6: 33. 

Teach thy tongue to say: I do not know. — Talmud. 

Shall I teach you what knowledge is ? When you know a thing, 
to hold that you know it; and, when you do not know a thing, to 
confess your ignorance — is knowledge. — CONFUCIUS. 



* 



*■ 



AT SCHOOL. 



37 



* 



00N after his return from abroad he 
again entered the Rittenhouse Academy 
in Washington, where he continued to attend 
until the middle of 1868. The quarterly re- 
ports of his principal, Mr. O. C. Wight, show 
him to have been perfect in his studies and 
deportment during this period, with scarcely 
an exception. 

In August, 1868, he entered a private 
school in Philadelphia. Under date of Au- 
gust 15, he writes: 

' ' I commenced going to school yesterday ; 
recited six lines in Virgil. I have taken up 
Greek and ancient history, besides spelling, 
Latin, geography, algebra, arithmetic, read- 
ing, and writing, so you see my time is pretty 
well occupied. I have practised on the piano 
this afternoon one good hour, and have yet 
to get three pages and a half in Greek gram- 
mar and a good lesson in Virgil. 

"I am very comfortably situated, have 
a beautiful room, very nicely furnished. 
Went to Sunday School last Sunday after- 
noon. The large room in the basement had 
about 350 in it. They use the Sabbath Carols, 
and a miserable, poor book it is. In the first 
place the children did not sing with a ivill, 



Re - enters 
Ritten- 
house 

Academy . 



Enters a 
private 
school in 
Philadel- 
phia. 



Goes t( 
Sunda;-' 
School. 



* 



* 



H4 



* 



38 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Suddenly 
taken ill in 
the street. 



*■ 



and in the next place the good new tunes are 
few and far between. 

' ' I am in pretty good health. The other 
day I went to market with Mr. K. I felt 
very restless, and while crossing the street in 
front of the house I became as blind as a bat 
for a few seconds, but I got hold of Hampton, 
and after stumbling over the curb, I reached 
the steps, and then my eyesight began to 
return slowly. After resting for a while on 
the sofa, I was soon well enough to be about, 
but I have had slight touches of the attack 
ever since. 

"Remember me to Wesley [the coach- 
man] , and tell him to take the very best care 
of Nellie" [buggy horse.] 

BECOMES A CHRISTIAN. 

Philadelphia, Feb. 23, 1869. 
Dear Mother — 

Your letters of 10th and 22d inst. , as also 
one from father received. 

Especially am I glad to hear so many 
young persons are coming to their blessed 
Savior. You may be surprised to read this 
from my pen, but, dear mother, the film has 
been removed from my eyes, the temple cur- 



* 



HE- 



AT SCHOOL. 



^ 



39 



tain has been rent and the face of my Lord 
and Master is no longer hidden from my eyes. 
I rejoice in the strength of the Lord. He is 
mine and I am his. The change came over 
me last Saturday afternoon. I now take 
comfort in prayer, and pleasure in reading 
my Bible. I have gone right to work in the 
vineyard of Jesus. I am now using all the 
influence I possess to bring sinners to Christ. 
Mother, is n't it singular that I have put off 
my salvation so long? I used to think it was 
hard to become a christian, but oh, if I had 
only read my Bible more I would have dis- 
covered the delusion under which I was la- 
boring. Tell all my unconverted friends to 
''Come to Jesus;" tell them what peace I 
have found. What shall I do in respect to 
relating my experience, and being baptized? 
Do you want me to wait a little while? I be- 
lieve that my sins are all forgiven, and I am 
ready to tell the people what God has done 
for me, next Friday night, and be buried in 
the baptismal water next Sunday morning. 
Mr. Kennard says that he dont see as there 
is any cause for delay on my part. Please 
advise me immediately. I should like to be 
baptized here, for there are a good many 



S+ 



Becomes a 
christian. 



Wishes t( 

he hap- 

tized. 



* 



* 



** 



40 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Grand- 
father 

Kendall. 



*■ 



young friends of mine that begin to feel 
anxious about their sinful condition, and I 
think my example would encourage them; 
but it is as you say. 

Give my love to grandpa, father, and all 
who love me. 

Write soon to 

Your christian son Willie. 

He was baptized by Rev. J. S. Kennard, 
in the Tenth Baptist Church in Philadelphia, 
on the 14th March, 1869. His parents and 
grandfather had the satisfaction of being 
present, greatly to the joy of the obedient 
young christian. 

Notwithstanding this radical change of 
heart wrought by the Divine Spirit, no 
marked change was perceptible or possible 
in his outward conduct. 

Hitherto Will had been greatly blessed 
by the constant and intimate association with 
his grandfather Kendall, who watched with 
tender interest the development of his grand- 
son's character. 

Mr. Kendall united with the Calvary 
Baptist Church, in Washington, April 2, 
1865, and now had the happiness of seeing 



* 



•V 



AT SCHOOL. 



41 



►fr 



his grandson following his steps in the sa- 
cred ordinance, administered by him at whose 
hands he had received it four years before. 
He was an earnest, consistent member, la- 
boring with cheerful zeal in the Sunday 
Schools, attending the public and devotional 
meetings, sometimes at great sacrifice of per- 
sonal comfort, always ready with his word 
of testimony, full of the missionary spirit, 
devoted to the prosperity of the church, mak- 
ing its interests paramount to all other con- 
siderations. 

Such a life, of necessity, exercises an 
almost controlling influence over those in 
contact with it. 

Mr. Kendall had attained his eightieth 
year; his increasing infirmities admonished 
him and his friends that his time was short. 
After a confinement to the house of about 
four months, during which his strength was 
perceptibly failing, though his mind continued 
perfectly clear, apparently gaining in vigor, 
as his physical weakness increased, on the 
12th of November, 1869, his spirit took its 
flight. A few hours before his death he called 
Will to his bedside and gave him the follow- 
ing words of admonition: 

5 



Christian 
influence. 



-* 



* 



42 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Words 
from the 

dying 
Christian. 



Do good 
every- 
where. 



Moral du- 
ties. 



Christian 
faith. 



* 



Mr. Kendall's dying words to his Grand- 
son W. S. Stickney, Nov. 11, 1869. 

"You have been a good child; be faith- 
ful. Do all God enables you to in his cause, 
not only in the Calvary Baptist Church, but 
everywhere; for this religion is not confined 
to persons or individuals; but ivhatever your 
duty is, I hope you may ever be able to per- 
form it. 

"In the first place, comply with all your 
moral duties in the Old and New Testaments; 
fulfil your duties to your fellow- men; do not 
deceive them for any purpose, but go through 
life an honest man as your grandfather has 
endeavored to do. What I would add to 
that is christian faith, which is the only 
assurance we can have for any immortality 
at all. Be true. Be useful and honest with 
your fellow men. Be true and faithful to 
your christian profession. Do all you can 
in every proper way to promote Christ's king- 
dom here on earth while you live. Be hon- 
est; go straight forward. There is one point 
upon which you cannot deviate: whatever 
you have belongs to your creditors, if you 
get in debt, rather than to yourself. First 



* 



*■ 



■* 



AT SCHOOL. 



VS 



satisfy them; conceal nothing; be direct and 
honest. 

"Be honest — honest first and last. No 
man can be a true christian who is not in all 
his transactions truthful and honest. If we 
cannot get along according to the principles 
of the Bible, we cannot get along at all." 

The solemn and impressive circumstan- 
ces under which these words were sp oken by 
the dying saint of eighty years, were well 
calculated to impress the heart of the christ- 
ian boy of seventeen. That scene and those 
words he never forgot. 

His profound respect and reverence for 
the character of his grandfather gave them 
additional force. He had witnessed his daily 
walk as it illustrated and confirmed his pro- 
fession, and his young heart was impressed 
with the conviction that there was an intense 
reality in a truly christian life. 

Whatever resolutions he made, or prayers 
he offered then and there, were never known; 
but his life, with all its energies and possibil- 
ities, was unreservedly and joyfully conse- 
crated to the triumphs of the gospel. Every 
thought, purpose, and plan were subordinate 
to this great, absorbing consideration. In 



flt" 



Honest 

first and 

last. 



Solemn 
impres- 
ions pro- 
duced. 



* 



* 



« 



44 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Returns 
home. 



Admitted 
to college. 



^ 



study and pleasure, at home and abroad, 
with friends or strangers, wherever he was, 
and whatever his circumstances, the great 
purpose of his life was ever kept prominently 
in view — to honor the name of his Master 
and promote the triumphs of his cause. 

The school in Philadelphia was closed on 
account of ill health of the principal. Will 
returned home, and in the autumn of 1869 
entered the private school of Mr. Young on 
Fourteenth street. Here he applied himself 
to study, entering with zest upon his duties, 
keeping along in music, taking an active 
part in church and Sunday School work, un- 
til June, 1871, when he was admitted to the 
Freshman class of the University of Roches- 
ter, as he tells us in the following letter: 

Osborn House, Rochester, June 26, 1871. 
Dear Father — 

I have just returned from the University, 
having passed the examination ivithout a con- 
dition. Will probably leave here next Thurs- 
day for Hartford and Rockville. 

If not too much trouble, please tell Mr. 
Young of my success. 

Your affectionate son Willie. 



t& 



*■ 



VACATION. 



* 



45 



From Rochester he went to visit friends 
at Southport, Conn., whose acquaintance he 
made abroad. From there he writes : 

Southport, July 10, 1871. 
Dear Father — 

My sojourn here has been very pleasant. 
Mr. M. and Miss J. do all they can to make it 
pleasant for me. I expect to leave next 
Wednesday, the 12th instant, for Rockville. 
Uncle John and Aunt Mary want me to make 
a visit there, so I will go Wednesday. 

Yesterday I attended service at the Con- 
gregational church. The preacher gave us a 
moral discourse, prefacing it by the affirma- 
tion, "I am a Republican," and taking for 
his subject — "Take care of No. 1." His text 
was the 4th verse of the 2d chapter of Phil- 
lippians. 

After church I stayed to Sunday School. 
After singing from the "Happy Voices,'' 
prayer was offered, but it was impossible to 
understand more than half that was said. 

The Asst. Supt. gave me a class of two 
boys, but they only distinguished themselves 
by their remarkable dullness. I asked ' ' What 
happened 1871 years ago?" Quite a pause 



*■ 



Visit* 

Southport 

Conn. 



Comments 

on Sunday 

services. 



Teaches ; 
class in 
SaDhath 
School. 



* 



* 



46 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



t& 



Letter 

to his 

mother. 



*■ 



ensued, when one of them said, "I know"; 
and upon further inquiry said, "The flood"! 
The classes were continually interrupted by 
the Librarian, Superintendent, and Treasurer. 
With much love, I remain 

Your affectionate son Willie. 

. Southport, July 18, 1871. 
Dear Mother — 

Your letter of the 14th came duly to hand. 
You may be surprised to see that I am still 
here; but it is Mr. M.'s doings. He expects 
to leave Thursday for Newport, and he want- 
ed me to stay until he went; so we all expect 
to start then. Mr. M. and Miss J. for New- 
port, and Mr. 8. for Rockville. I should be 
most happy to welcome father, if he finds 
that the Council can just as well adjourn. 

If you are so hungry for music, why 
do n't you feed yourself? The piano is all 
ready to respond if you desire it and use the 
proper means. 

Yesterday morning I took my first swim. 

Please ask father to bring "Religion and 
Chemistry," by Cook, when he comes on. 

How are the Missions getting along? Sun- 
day I was requested to take charge of the 



* 



* 



VACATION. 



* 



47 



organ, but declined. The- music is very poor, 
the preaching not much better. I do long to 
hear a good sermon. 

But the carriage is ready for us all to go 
riding, so I must say Good-bye. 

Give love to father, and write soon to 
Your affectionate son Willie. 



From Southport he visited friends at 
Weston, near Boston. 

Speaking of the great organ, he ? writes : 

"Last Wednesday I went to hear the 
great organ, and I do n't know when I have 
enjoyed an hour so much. I can't under- 
stand why some people, highly educated and 
cultivated, do not enjoy music. Just think 
of an instrument with 108 stops and 4 key- 
boards! but you have heard it, and can ap- 
preciate my feelings. I could not refrain 
from lifting up my heart in thankfulness to 
God that he had permitted man to enjoy and 
to have such delightful music. 

"Now I guess you would like to know 
how I occupy my time, and what I am read- 
ing. Well, I read four chapters in the Bible 
every day — three in the O. T. and one in the 
K T. You do n't know how much easier it 



Or 



Visits 
Boston. 



At Music 
Hall. 



Reading-. 



* 



* 



* 



48 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Value of 

his letters. 



©■ 



is for me to live a christian life, since I have 
made myself more familiar with God's Word. 
I am also reading Freeman's ' Early English 
History,' and that is very interesting as well 
as instructive. I practice nearly every day 
on the piano." 

Inasmuch as the life of our son, while at 
college, is to be revealed by his own letters, 
it seems fitting that a word or two should be 
said with reference to them. In the first 
place, then, we give them just as they came 
to us — the familiar, open-hearted utterances 
of a child, in whom there was never the least 
appearance of deceit, to parents the joy of 
whose life was their perfect confidence in 
their boy, that, whether under their immedi- 
ate watch -care, or far absent from home, he 
would be true to their honor, and the profes- 
sion of his faith. In the second place, these 
letters, which could not have been written 
with the least thought that they would ap- 
pear in print, are invaluable for the unsought 
testimony they give to his true character. 

Returning to Rochester at the beginning 
of the term, in September, 1871, he gives the 
following account of himself: 



* 



t& 



'V 



AT COLLEGE. 



49 



Rochester, Saturday, Sept. 23, 1871. 
Dear Father — 

Yours of the 16th inst. was duly received. 
Do n't be afraid of my studying too hard. I 
understand some of my friends have ranked 
me among the "smart men" of the class of 
'75, but I have not obtained such credit from 
hard study. Latin and Greek translations 
are easy, but grammar is a bugbear; some- 
times I feel almost ashamed to think I am 
not posted. I retire at ten o'clock and get up 
at six or half past. After dressing, play on 
the piano (which arrived in good condition 
last Tuesday), and at seven go next door to 
breakfast, after which I read over Livy and 
Xenophon with Messrs. Milne and Adams 
(who live next door) — the former is the best 
man in the class. At 9 we report at the 
chapel for prayers; directly after which we 
recite to Prof. Sage (Latin), then to Prof. 
Robinson (algebra), and finally, to Prof. Mix- 
er (Greek.) 

At 12i we dine, and then Milne and Ad- 
ams either come in here, or I go in there, and 
we study until 4J-, and then I go to St. Peter's 
church and practise on the organ till 5|-. At 
6 the tea -bell rin^s. After tea Adams and I 



Reputa- 
tion as a 
scholar. 



Outline of 
the lahor 

of the clay. 



* 



* 



* 



Hi 



50 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Society 
question. 



Under 
censure. 



* 



generally go to the Post Office, and take a 
walk, getting home about 8, and we spend 
the remainder of the time either singing or 
playing — Adams accompanying me on the 
piano with his flute. So you see I have 
something to do, and do something all the 
time. My health is good, and I am feeling 
well. My headaches, I hope, have departed, 
never to return. My organ teacher is said 
by all to be the first organist in the city. 

There is one thing I wish to leave entire- 
ly to you, and that is the society question. 
There are only two good societies in the Uni- 
versity. [Here follows his opinion of the 
two societies, not necessary to copy.] 

With love to mother and all inquiring 
friends. Your aff . son Willie. 

The following requires a word of explan- 
tion. 

Will had informed me that his landlady 
had complained that he and his companions 
had offended her by their boisterous singing 
and late hours. Not knowing the character 
of his associates, and fearing he might be 
tempted to neglect more important duties, 
and give too much time to serenading. I 



+5 



>:<■ 



AT COLLEGE. 



* 



51 



wrote the letter to which the following is a 
reply. 

His letter convinced me that my criticism 
was unnecessarily harsh. 

Rochester, Oct. 13, 1871. 
My dear Father — 

Your letter of the 10 inst. is before me. 
I was surprised, and sorry, to find that I had 
in any way displeased you. 

Father, I think you are rather severe, 
when you say, "You are so unmindful of 
what you are in Rochester for, as to join sere- 
nading parties." You must remember that it 
was on a Friday night. We have no lessons 
-Saturday, hence, by going out serenading, I 
neglected no studies. Friday afternoon I 
studied my Latin and Greek for Monday, 
and it was easy to get algebra on Saturday ; 
so you are convinced no studies were neg- 
lected. You speak as if I intended to make 
a habit of serenading. In that you are mis- 
taken. There are five of us, who sing to- 
gether about every week, on Friday even- 
ings, and as our music is as well adapted to 
serenades as any thing else, we sung a few 
of them the other night. 



£&■ 



Defence. 



* 



'Zj 



52 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Nc ble res- 
olution. 



* 



I think if you were here you would think 
I made "music a recreation." My practice 
on the organ is certainly a rest, after study- 
ing from half -past one to four without stop- 
ping. In the evening, I take your advice, 
and, when weary of study, I wake up the 
echoes of the piano. 

Your wishes in regard to taking an or- 
gan will be heeded. 

In the foregoing, please do n't think me 
impudent or presumptuous; I have no such 
idea; I only want to explain things to you. 
that you may not think your son is spending 
his time in follies, rather than in study. I 
will try to do better in the future. I 'm sorry 
that you have been obliged to say that you 
are "disappointed " in me. Rest assured that 
it will be my. earnest endeavor, during the 
remainder of my life, so to conduct myself 
that you will never again be able to make 
such a statement. 

This week has been very pleasant at the 
University. Every thing has passed off well. 
We have tough lessons in mathematics, but 
Latin and Greek are easy. 

The Sophomores have tried several times 
to get the Freshmen into a fight, but we 



* 



* 



AT COLLEGE. 



53 



have kept very cool. Yesterday a party of 
them stood at the gate and refused to let us 
pass, but we all went through after a good 
deal of pulling. 

Prex was at the recitation in mathemat- 
ics yesterday and to - day. He gave us quite 
a talk about the Chicago calamity, which 
was very instructive. He speaks to me oc- 
casionally. 

At the next covenant meeting of the 
church, please ask for my letter to the First 
Baptist Church here; Dr. Robbins, pastor. 

I am in Dr. Kendrick's class in S. S. , and 
it is as good as a sermon to hear him. The 
first day I heard him was communion Sab- 
bath, and then I made his acquaintance. The 
people appear very cordial, and I think it 
will make me a good church home. 

My reading is confined to McKensie's 
"Life of Dickens," in which I am very much 
interested. With much love to you and mo- 
ther, I remain, affectionately, 

Your would be dutiful son Willie. 

Rochester, Nov. 5, 1871. 
My dear Father — 

I suppose by this time you have returned 
from your north -western trip. 



* 



Seeks his 
letter to 

join 
church in 

Rochester. 



Reading. 



* 



* 



54 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



At work in 
Mission 
Sunday 
School. 



Feels him- 
self to be a 
stranger. 



*- 



Prof. Gilmore asked me to come to the 
Bethlehem Mission last night, and I went. 
They have just organized a church with 
eighty members, and wanted me to play the 
organ (cabinet), so I consented. Service is 
held in the morning, and prayer - meeting in 
the evening. 

This a. m. Dr. Anderson (Prex) preached 
the first sermon. His ideas were deep, and 
evidently the result of much study. The 
church was nearly full. This afternoon I 
went to the mission, and my boys were very 
good. Mr. Phillips, the Supt., put the sing- 
ing in my charge; so you see I have all at 
once taken quite a responsibility upon me, 
and you may rest assured I will try to acquit 
myself in a manner that will be creditable to 
myself as well as to those who gave me 
the position. Bat I must go to supper, and 
thence to teachers' meeting and church. 

I have just returned from church, and I 
do n't know when I have been made to feel 
my situation here as a stranger as to - night. 
But two members spoke to me, and what 
they said seemed to be a concentration of an 
abridgement, so few and precise were their 
utterances. 



* 



* 



* 



AT COLLEGE. 



00 



If any young strangers come into your 
meetings, father, please speak to them. You 
have no idea how lonesome one feels, when 
neglected by those from whom he should 
most expect attention. 

Please give much love to mother. Hop- 
ing you are both feeling the better for your 
trip, I am 

Your affectionate son Willie. 

Rochester, Nov. 21. 1871. 
My dear Father — 

Yours of the 11th hist, was duly received, 
and would have been answered sooner, but I 
have been hard at work most of the time; the 
spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak. 

I am having grand times at the East 
Ave. Church, and I have good news for you. 
viz. : Fassett told me yesterday he had found 
his Savior. You may imagine my feelings, 
when you know we are together most all the 
time. What a pleasant surprise it will be to 
his parents! At present there is a good deal 
of religious feeling among the students — "our 
class," especially. 

Dr. Buckland preaches at the church, and 
a great many students attend. My class are 



Grand 
times at 
East Ave. 
Church. 



Conver- 
sions. 



* 



* 



* 



56 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Hard 
study. 



Thanks 
for early 
Christian 
training. 



*■ 



improving. I am not prepared to say how 
many, if any, will go home with me Xmas. 
It seems a good way off. Sometimes I think 
the wheels of time are running down, it moves 
so slowly; but at other, 't is almost impossible 
to keep up with it. 

Years ago I thought there was a great 
deal of romance connected with college life, 
but I have found all such ideas to be ground- 
less; it 's no jest, but stern reality. This is 
the first time I have been under the necessity 
of being my own man. Home is too far off 
to retreat to, and the little squalls, seemingly 
large to an inexperienced voyager, must be 
brunted. 

Many times I have had occasion to thank 
God for my early christian training, and my 
present faith in Him. A student that is a 
christian is doubly marked: first, by the com- 
munity, as a student, and second, by his fel- 
lows, as a christian. Yet I have never en- 
joyed my religion so much as I do at the 
present time. 

Last week the hebdomadal epistle did not 
go at its wonted period; the reason was, that 
I put it in the back part of my Bible, expect- 
ing I would think to mail it when I passed 



■* 



*■ 



■V 



AT COLLEGE. 



the box, but it flattened down so that I did 
not see it until it accidentally fell out while I 
was reading. Love to you and mother. 

Affectionately, your son William. 
W. Stickney, 

Washington, D. C, 
U. S. A., K A., West. Hem., Tern. Zone. 

Rochester, Nov. 27, 1871. 
Dear Father — 

Your letter of 24th hist, came to hand 
this morning, just before I started for college. 
I can't find words in which to express my 
thanks for it. 

The past week has been one of particular 
interest in the college, and out of it, as re- 
gards religious matters. 

Our class is getting waked up, and we 
are having grand good times at our prayer- 
meetings. Last Saturday some christians 
spoke who have not opened their lips before, 
concerning Christ, since their connection with 
the University. The meeting was protracted 
for the purpose of praying for our classmates. 
At the church (East Ave.), last night, two 
said that, during the past week, they felt as 
if the burden of sin had rolled from their 



Good 
times. 



■* 



* 



* 



58 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Anxiety 
for the 
conver- 
sion of his 
Sunday 
School 
scholars. 



Opinion of 

Tammany. 



* 



backs, and quite a number asked the prayers 
of God's people. I really think that God is 
with us. It seems the older I become, the 
more do I appreciate the blessings with which 
I am surrounded, and the more do I have of 
God's love. Yet, as I said to one of the boys 
the other day, the more fully do I realize my 
responsibilities as a christian. 

Yesterday morning Professor Gilmore 
preached about St. Paul as a man of one idea, 
and held him up as a model. In the p. m. I 
went to the S. S. , and my boys were unusual- 
ly good. One remained after the exercises 
were over, and I had quite a long talk with 
him about the importance of being a christ- 
ian. Father, pray for that boy, as well as 
for his teacher. 

Success to you in the preparation of the 
cantata. Do n't work too hard; let each do 
his share. 

You speak of "Tammany." That's a 
thing of the past; its stronghold is weakened, 
its leaders are palsied, and it is fast going to 
ruin. I think it would not be inappropriate 
to hold a special day of thanksgiving over its 
destruction. The habitation of the wicked 
shall not stand, but will fall as a house built 



* 



K* 



-►B 



AT COLLEGE. 



59 



upon the sand. New York should "Praise 
God" till the heavens ring with the echoes, 
so great a scourge have they been released 
from. 

How is Dr. Parker's health? I suppose 
he is hard at work in the church. Are the 
salaries of the pastor and sexton paid up reg- 
ularly? I think one reason why our church 
dont have souls converted in it, is because it 
clont pay its debts. If the members are not ' 
sufficiently interested to pay their pew- rents, 
are they, can they be very much interested 
in the enlargement of Christ's church. I 
think it is just as much a duty for us to pay 
our debts as it is to pray. 

Each member of the church and congre- 
gation here is expected to pay something per 
quarter. 

Mr. Phillips handed me the inclosed card 
for you. They are very nice people. They 
asked me in yesterday p. m., and it seemed 
almost like home. We sat around the piano 
and I played, and we all sung those good old 
tunes you like so much — Hamburg, Rocking- 
ham, Duke Street, &c. 

I wish I could be with you and help eat 
the Thanksgiving turkey; but for the first 



Concern 

for the 

church at 

home. 



* 



« 



ffr 



* 



60 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Impres- 
sions of 
the earth- 
ly great. 



Thanks- 
giving-day 



* 



time my seat must be vacant. I expect my 
dinner will be very much as that upon other 
days. 

Not long since I met Mr. , [a member 

of his church]; he spoke, and that was all. 
I should like to know him, but boys must n't 
have too high aspirations. 

My health is first rate, and with much 
love to you and mother, I am 

Your affectionate son Will. 

Looneyville, Dec. 1, 1871. 
Dear Father — 

You must n't think I have fetched up at 
the insane asylum; but I concluded to accept 
the invitation of my friend Ed. Adams, and 
spend Thanksgiving -day with him. 

Yesterday I went to church, and heard a 
Methodist minister. He advanced some good 
ideas. His sermon was orthodox, and seemed 
to please the people. 

Ed. and I sung in the choir, and of course 
the singing was good — Federal Street, El- 
tham, Doxology, and a Thanksgiving An- 
them. The last was first rate. 

In the afternoon we had a very good 
dinner, and afterwards spent the evening at 



* 



* 



AT COLLEGE. 



■© 



61 



one of the neighbors, and had a splendid 
time. 

I am writing in Ed.'s school, which is 
four miles from his home. He teaches to 
make money to pay his way through college. 
I have enjoyed this day, and think I will 
return better able to appreciate the blessings 
with which I am surrounded. 

Mr. and Mrs. A. are very pleasant peo- 
ple, and do all they can to make me enjoy 
myself. While I write it is snowing quite 
hard. It seems odd to see so much snow at 
this season of the year. The mercury has 
been down to 10°, and I find myself able to 
stand the cold as well as the residents here. 

But Ed. is having a spelling -match, and 
I must see the fun. 

Will write more soon. 

Give much love to mother. 

Write soon, to 

Your affectionate son Will. 

The following letter shows that the young 
student was entering upon that stage of col- 
lege life so full of the spirit of destructive 
criticism — one of the most dangerous periods 
of youth — when, with the enlargement of 



*■ 



A critical 

period. 



*■ 



62 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



•%< 



the mental vision, more than one side of 
some great principle, or truth, or fact is 
seen, without ability to discern their essen- 
tial unity. It is just here that two ways 
meet — the one leading to scepticism, the 
other to humble, and devout, and resolute 
faith. Over which of these two ways his 
feet traveled, his own letters shall bear tes- 
timony. They show the victory that over- 
cometh the world — even his faith. 



Rochester, Dec. 5, 1871. 
My dear Father — 

I arrived safely from my Thanksgiving- 
trip Saturday night. Sunday morning it 
was very cold, and thinking it would con- 
tinue so, I went out without my rubbers, but 
by noon the snow and ice had thawed, and I 
returned with wet feet. I tried to dry them 
before S. S., but when night came, I had a 
severe cold accompanied with a headache. 
Monday morning I could hardly speak, so 
I kept house. This morning my throat was 
sore, but it is now better, and I hope to go to 
college to-morrow, D. V. 

It is very stormy; the wind has been blow- 
ing hard all day, and at the same time snowing. 



►fr 



*■ 



* 



AT COLLEGE. 



63 



Lately I have beeir thinking a good deal 
about the immortality of the soul. 1st Tim- 
othy, 6th chapter, and 16th verse, says, that 
Christ only hath immortality; and in 17th 
verse of 1st ch. , it speaks of Christ as immor- 
tal, and implies to my mind that immortality 
was the property of God, excluding mankind. 
Yet, in the 10th vs. of 1st ch. of 2d Tim., it 
speaks of immortality being brought to light 
through the Gospel. What does that mean? 
In the 13th vs. of the 3d ch. of John, we read, 
that no man ascended up to heaven but the 
Son of man. Now how can we reconcile 
that with the 11th vs. of 2d ch. of 2d Kings, 
which says, Elijah went up by a whirlwind 
into heaven? And where did Moses and Eli- 
as come from when they appeared at the 
Mount of Transfiguration? 

Again, in the 16th vs. of the 6th ch. of 1st 
Tim., what does it mean by saying, that no 
one can approach unto the light in which 
God dwells, unless it be that no one dwells in 
his presence? 

Do n't you think the theory that there is 
a place of rest for departed spirits, before the 
final resurrection, is a plausible one? because 
it says, in 31st vs. of 2d ch. of Acts, that 



*■ 



Immoi 
tality 



Specula- 
tion. 



* 



* 



* 



64 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Social re- 
cognition. 



*■ 



Christ, at his resurrection, was not in hell, 
nor was his flesh permitted to see corruption; 
and in the 17th vs. of the 20th ch, of John, it 
states, that Christ had not yet ascended to 
heaven. So where was he? 

Father, I ask these questions, not be- 
cause I doubt the religion I profess, for I 
love it more and more every day, but be- 
cause I want to know where I stand, and 
what I believe. 

With my limited knowledge of the Bible, 
I am unable to answer these questions as 
they from time to time present themselves to 
my mind. So please enlighten me. 

One more question : Do you recall what 
caused the "Dark day," in 1780? (I think 
that was the year.) I was asked whether 
it could be accounted for by science, and 
was unable to answer. 

When I returned from my Thanksgiving 
trip, I found invitations to dine with the 
Prex, Prof. Gilmore, Mr. Morse, Mr. Bene- 
dict, and Mrs. Gorton. Was not that pretty 
well for a Freshman? Cash account in- 
closed. When you see "contributions, one 
dollar," you may exclaim, "Charity covereth 
a multitude of sins"; but I am old enough to 



* 



*■ 



AT COLLEGE. 



ti 



65 



know that honesty is the best policy. But I 
must say, Good night. Give much love to 
mother, and write soon to 

Your affectionate son Willie. 

Rochester, Tuesday night, 

Dec. 19, 1871. 
Dear Father — 

You will have to excuse the brevity of 
this epistle, as we have an examination in 
Greek to-morrow, and I am reading over 
the work of the term. I have just finished 
the Anabasis, and will go to work at once at 
my Greek grammar. On Thursday, I will 
find out what I do n't know of algebra, and 
Friday will make us stand around in Latin. 
!N"ext time I will write more at length. I 
hope to be with you before long. 

Give love to mother, and accept much 
for yourself, 

From your affectionate son William. 

At the close of the term, Will came to 
Washington, and passed a happy Christmas. 

January sixth, he advised us of his safe 
arrival in Rochester, and warm greetings by 
manv friends. 



*■ 



Christmas 

at Wash- 
ington and 
then hack 
to Roches- 
ter. 



* 



■* 



66 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Baptisms. 



* 



Kochester, Jan'y 10, 1872. 
My dear Father — 

I propose to take part of my time this 
morning, and inform you how I have pros- 
pered since my return. 

Sunday morning brought to us a capital 
sermon from Dr. Buckland, on the "manner 
and results of the workings of the Holy 
Spirit." It was instructive and interesting. 

At S. S., in the afternoon, my boys were 
attentive, and seemed to be interested, on 
account of which I felt very much encour- 
aged; but you know the best is saved to the 
last of the feast, so in this case, for in the 
evening Prof. Gilmore baptized six persons — 
three ladies and three gentlemen. The house 
was crowded, and the meeting was inter- 
esting. Monday afternoon fourteen rose for 
prayer, and we have indications that the 
spirit of God is resting on our city. Last 
night I attended a prayer - meeting at East 
Ave. Ch., and it was pleasant to be there. 
To-day is set apart for the day of prayer 
for colleges. 

Give much love to mother, remember me 
kindly to all inquiring friends, and write soon 
to your aff. son Will. 



# 



*■ 



■w 



AT COLLEGE. 



07 



Rochester, Jan'y 16, 1872. 
Dear Father — 

As I have studied my lessons, and fin- 
ished my reading, I will proceed to answer 
your letter of the 11th inst., which came duly 
to hand. 

The beneficial influences of a teachers' 
meeting are not mine to boast of. The les- 
sons are not what I desire for my class. The 
boys know nothing of the life and teachings 
of Christ, and I think it is preposterous to 
teach any thing before the pupils have even 
a crude idea of the Hero of the Bible. 

Sunday evening I remained at home, 
and prepared a few questions on the " Life of 
Christ," from the first and second chapters of 
Matt. They are simple, and I think will be 
interesting. I propose to copy them — one 
for each boy in the class — and see if I can 
persuade them to study them. 

It always seemed strange to me that a 
christian could be so glib in business meet- 
ings, and so very quiet in prayer -meetings. 
What we want is men of clear, sensible ideas, 
who are not afraid to speak them. 

Much obliged for your good opinion of 
my account. 



Prepares 
questions 
«>n Life of 
Christ for 

his class 

in Sunday 

School. 



* 



68 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Congratu- 
lations. 



*• 



I am about to send you a keg of winter- 
green cider. The cider is a present from 
Mr. Gorton, the keg from me. You know 
we mustn't despise small things, and if it 
was not for the keg, you couldn't have the 
cider! 

Let me congratulate you on seeing an- 
other Jan'y 15. [The anniversary of his pa- 
rents' marriage.] May He who rules the 
universe, and directs the affairs of men as 
well, permit you to see many more years of 
conjugal happiness. In the past the Lord 
has dealt with us with a bountiful hand, 
and may it not close, nor his blessings cease, 
as you approach the meridian of life. And 
may the love of the Lord increase in your 
hearts till they will hold no more. 

Give much love to mother, not forgetting 
to appropriate your share. 

It is nearly half -past ten — time for a 
student to rest. So good night. 

Affectionately, your son Willie. 

Rochester, Feb'y 25, 1872, 
Sunday night. 
My dear Mother — 

As I have nearly an hour before church, 
I will devote it to you. 



+±< 



*- 



AT COLLEGE. 



■^ 



69 



Father's letter, enclosing check, was duly 
received, and I would return many thanks 
for it. 

Things are just about as usual, though 
the monotony was disturbed two or three 
weeks ago by the expressman bringing me 
two boxes. Their contents were soon dis- 
placed, and you would have laughed to see 
me going through them. I am ever so much 
obliged. The books were all right, and the 
picture and paper -rack both sound. The 
picture is right over my piano, and I enjoy 
looking at it very much. How kind of you 
and father to think of my wants, and things 
that were not wants. 

I never knew how much I loved you and 
father until I came here. Everything is so 
different from home. 

What 's father so busy about, that he 
can't write a good old - fashioned letter ? 
How prospers the Women's Christian Asso- 
ciation ? It is first and foremost, as ever, 
in your thoughts, I suppose. 

I was asked if I would take an organ at 
four hundred a year. I declined. The bells 
are ringing, and I must to meeting. 



* 



Presents 
from home 



* 



* 



* 



70 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Ill health. 



►fr 



Love to all inquiring friends, especially 
to father. 

Write soon, to your affectionate son 

Willie. 

Rochester, March 16, 1872. 
My dear Father — 

Your letter, written just one week ago, 
lies before me. 

I have not felt very well lately; my head 
has troubled me more or less, and my prac- 
tice has been to go to bed as soon as my 
lessons were learned — and often before. 
Have not been to college the last two or 
three days. There is nothing in particular 
the matter, but a good deal in general; and 
that 's the worst of it, because I do n't know 
what to do for myself. I have just such a 
turn as I had in Jan'y, 1871, when I stayed 
away from school a week or so. To-day I 
feel better for my rest. Next week will be 
spent in preparing myself for examinations, 
and so soon as they are over, I propose to 
take the first train for home. At the class 
election, held recently, I was unanimously 
elected secretary. 

During the past month I have heard 



* 



* 



AT COLLEGE. 



M< 



71 



Punchon and Collyer lecture, and Madame 
Diehl Randall read. The first two were in- 
teresting, but the last was considerably be- 
low par. 

I celebrated the 22d ult. by listening to 
Wendell Phillips on "Labor and Capital." 
His arguments were forcible. 

In my cash account you will find several 
items for purchase of books (my weakness,) 
viz.: works on "Phonography," "Words and 
their Uses," by P. G. White; "Legends of 
the Old Testament," by Gould; "Classic At- 
las," by Long; "Correct Pronunciation," 
Soule and Wheeler; "Smallest Ed. of Shaks- 
peare," and " Bartlett's^ Quotations. " 

Mr. and Mrs. Gorton have treated me 
with marked kindness. In all my experi- 
ence away from home, I have never received 
so much attention. 

The church is progressing, and we are 
all hard at work. 

Love to mother, and accept much for 
yourself, from your affectionate son 

Willie. 

After a brief visit home, he is again at 
his post. 



*■ 



Lectures 
and 

reading. 



X 



72 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Visits N.Y. 



*■ 



Rochester, April 11, 1872. 
My dear Father — 

You see that I have arrived, and it only 
remains for me to add, safe and sound. On 
our way we — Geo. Ordway and I — stopped 
at the Fifth Ave. Hotel, K Y. Tuesday we 
went down street on Banner [for S. S.] busi- 
ness. Finding myself in the vicinity of Mr. 
L.'s office, I called in. Receiving a polite in- 
vitation to visit Staten Island, at one o'clock 
I took the boat, and met a cordial reception, 
stopping to dinner. All wished to be remem- 
bered to you and mother. 

This is your birthday. Let me congratu- 
late you with the hope that your years of use- 
fulness and happiness may be many, and 
you may ripen into a good old age. I feel, 
in the coming years, as I grow older, I may 
be of more assistance to you, and may serve 
you as becomes a son. 

"Adieu." Much love to mother, and 
write soon to 

Your affectionate son Willie. 

Rochester, April 26, 1872. 
My dear Father — 

Yours of 24th inst. is received. I would 



+5 



*■ 



■* 



AT COLLEGE. 



73 



have written before, but we have had just 
as much as we could do. 

I am glad to hear of Nellie's [buggy 
horse] improvement. Hope you will not 
loan her to any one to use during your ab- 
sence from the city. 

By reelecting their former President, the 
Council showed their wisdom. 

I have adopted your suggetion, and eve- 
ry day exercise an hoar at the gymnasium. 
I feel better for it. 

I have been elected leader of the singing 
in S. S., and chorister in the church. The 
choir will sing their first anthem next Sun- 
day. My college duties must not suffer from 
these new duties. So soon as I feel they do, 
I will resign. 

This morning the Prex gave us a good 
political talk. 

Friday night the Sophomore class buried 
"•Calculus." The members of the class were 
dressed in white sheets, and wore masks, 
except the Priest, who was in black. They 
had a coffin, in which the conquered study 
was placed. After a funeral sermon, and 
some singing, the coffin was placed on a 
pyre and reduced to ashes, which were then 



* 



Elected 

chorister 

at the 

church. 



Burial of 
Calculus. 



*■ 



%r 



74 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY 



* 



gathered up, placed in an urn, and buried. 
The grave is marked by a cross board, bear- 
ing the inscription, — "'74 Calculus. Died 
March 27, 1872." 

Tell mother that wearing a stove-pipe 
hat has a good effect upon her son. 

Much love to mother and yourself, from 
Your affectionate son Willie. 



Work. 



Kochester, Tuesday, May 21, 1872. 
My dear Father — 

Every thing is moving in the even tenor 
of its ways here, and the monotony of college 
life remains unbroken. 

Thursday I thoroughly enjoyed a ride to 
the lake. Saturday we had a shower. Sun- 
day it rained, and yesterday it poured. 

We are all very busy, as this is our hard- 
est term, and it requires hard work to keep 
up a good standing in the class. 

If any of my friends complain of my 
silence, please tell them our days are bound- 
ed on all sides by hard work. 

Tell mother she must not work too hard 
in the W. C. A. 

Please send my fishing -pole and tackle. 
You will find reel, corks, sinkers, and rod in 



* 



* 



©■ 



■w 



AT COLLEGE. 



75 



the south closet of my room. Yesterday 
Ed., "Deacon" Rowley, and I went to the 
lake, and caught two dozen black bass. 
This morning at breakfast we did ample 
justice to them. Ed. sings out, "Remember 
me to your mother"; so please deliver the 
message, with much love to mother and you. 
Bon nuit. 

Your affectionate son Willie. 

Rochester, June 15, 1872. 
My dear Father — 

Yours of 3d inst., enclosing check, has 
been received; for both of which, many 
thanks. 

I suppose you have received the paper 
containing an account of the doings of '75. 
We had a grand time, and though not good 
for much the next day, the class was bene- 
fited. 

The 8th inst. was "Class day." I sent 
you an account of that, also, in the "Union." 
I was disappointed in the manner in which 
the exercises were conducted. The senior 
forgot his speech, and many of the gradu- 
ates acted more like boys than young men 
preparing to battle with the hardships of the 
world. 



M- 



Recrea- 
tion. 



Class day. 



* 



* 



76 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY 



* 



College 
jokes. 



Examina- 
tions. 



Just before "Class day," a notice ap- 
peared on the Bulletin board of rather a mys- 
tical character, and the next day the flag- 
pole was lying on the ground. A few days 
ago another similar notice was seen, and on 
the following day the Juniors did not recite 
in mathematics, as the blackboards were 
greased from end to end. To-day another 
notice was posted, so I expect we will have 
more of these silly performances. On Wed- 
nesday, the 26th, examinations commence, 
and Friday will close our apprenticeship as 
Freshmen, and we ascend one step — no 
"more" fools. Much love to mother. 

Affectionately, your son Willie. 

Rochester, June 27, 1872. 
My dear Father — 

Yesterday we had an examination in 
Livy. Inclosed, you will find the paper. I 
answered every question to the 6th section, 
and just then Prof. Morey informed us "time 
was up," so I had to stop. 

This p. m. we have a Greek oral exam- 
ination, with Dr. Kendrick. I expect to get 
through all right. To - morrow mathematics, 
and I can safely say I dread it. 



®- 



* 



* 



AT COLLEGE. 



<3 



Please meet me at the St. James, in 
Boston, the 4th prox. 

With much love to mother, and hoping 
to see you both soon, I remain 

Your affectionate son Will. 

After a pleasant tour to the White Moun- 
tains, and a visit to his friends in Southport, 
Will returned to his studies. 

44 Park Ave., Eochester, Oct. 5, 1872. 
My dear Father — 

Your letter of 1st inst. came to hand, 
and was very welcome. 

At this end of the line every thing is 
progressing favorably. 

Yesterday Dr. Anderson called me aside 
and suggested that I ride on horseback, be- 
cause, he said, he noticed I did not look 
very vigorous. I thanked him for his in- 
terest. This a. m. he repeated the sugges- 
tion, advising me to ride three or four times 
a week. Think I will try it. 

The other day I made out my cash acc't 
for June, et seq. 

My expenses for Freshman year were 
$1,103.21. Doing pretty well, wasn't it, to 
get rid of so much money? 



* 



Visits the 

White 
Mountains 



Cash 
account. 



* 



* 



78 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



In your last you signed yourself, "Affec- 
tionately your son." Much obliged; but I 
guess you mistook the person. 

The supper bell warns me I am wanted 
below. Much love to mother. 

Affectionately, your son Willie. 



Rochester, Nov. 20, 1872. 
My dear Mother — 

Your nice letter of the 16th is before me. 
The braces are upon my back, and my car- 
riage is more erect. They feel very com. 
fortable. The jacket, too, is much admired. 
Heretofore I have only worn it on Sundays, 
because it is so short it reveals the seat of 
my every- day pants, which are somewhat 
dilapidated. I was measured yesterday for 
a new pair. The study- lamp you sent goes 
first rate. I hardly know what to think of 
my head, which gives me a good deal of 
trouble. Dr. Anderson says I have dyspep- 
sia. I have done little or no studying the 
past month, except in French. I am now 
some better, and expect to work hard in 
preparation for examination. Mrs. Douglass 
is very kind, and says, if I am too sick to 
write, she will. 



*■ 



->j< 



*■ 



AT COLLEGE. 



* 



79 



I have purchased a chromo, called a 
"Highland Lake," which is the gem of my 
"gallery." 

The other night I was initiated into the 
Delta Kappa Epsilon Society, which is a very 
literary one. 

The other day the Latin Professor called 
up a student, whom I will call P. , and asked 
him to give the subject of the 1st Satire, in 
2d book of Horace. P. was silent. Prof, 
then called for the first sentence. P. replied, 
he could not read that. As a dernier resort, 
the Prof, called for the second. P. replied, 
he could not read that. Prof, then said P. 
reminded him of the honest negro, who told 
his master one of his own oxen was dead, 
and after a short pause, added, the other was 
dead, also. He said he did not like to tell it 
all at once, for fear the shock would be too 
great. We thought that a pretty good joke 
on P. 

We have commenced analytical geom- 
etry and calculus. — Tough. But "Pranzo 
pronto subito." 

With an indefinite (on account of its 
large quantity) supply of love, I am 

Your loving son Willie. 



* 



A consid- 
erate stu- 
dent. 



G 



* 



80 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Buffalo. 



* 



P. S. May you enjoy your Thanksgiving. 

vv m. Sober Sides. 

Rochester, Dec. 2, 1872. 
My dear Mother — 

Although I do n't owe you a letter, I am 
going to be very generous to - day and tell 
you what a nice time I have had during the 
past few days. Friday I left Clarence — 
where I wrote father's letter — and after the 
four mile ride in the sleigh, took the cars for 
Buffalo. The further west we went, the 
more snow we met, so that when we reached 
our destination, we found good sleighing. 
George S. and Marcus H., classmates, were 
waiting for us, and seemed to be real glad to 
see us. George took us to his home. His 
mother is a real nice woman — reminding me 
very much of you. His father is a fine- 
looking man, very particular in his dress, 
conversation, &c. That evening we called 
on one of the young lady friends of the boys. 
We had a pleasant time, but did not stay 
long, as she had an engagement. 

Saturday morning, after breakfast, we 
went to the Synagogue, to please H. The 
prayers and readings were in Hebrew, the 



* 



*■ 



AT COLLEGE. 



81 



singing and sermon in German, so that, to 
me, every thing was unintelligible. The 
Rabbi chose for his text, the death of Horace 
Greeley. I spent the sermon time in reading 
the preface to the Prayer -Book (Jewish.) 
From that I learned that the Reform Jews 
do not expect to return to Jerusalem; also, 
that they look for a Messianic Era — not a 
Messiah in person. They also believe the 
souls of the dead are affected by the prayers 
of those on earth. I never knew these 
things before. 

We took dinner with H., and had a reg- 
ular Jewish meal. The meat had been in- 
spected, and all the veins removed, and the 
blood allowed to drip out. We had no but- 
ter, as it is not permitted to have butter and 
meat at the same time. At dinner they 
generally have what they call "the meat 
dishes," and for tea, "the milk dishes;" and 
it is contrary to their law to use the same 
dishes (plates, &c.,) for one meal that they 
have for another. 

After dinner we visited the Young Men's 
Library, also the Grosvenor Library. The 
former contains about 25,000, and the latter 
about twelve thousand vols. The former 



Jewish 
synagogue 



Jewish 
meal. 



*■ 



* 



gt 



"; 



82 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Sunday 

sei*vices. 



* 



is self-supporting, while the latter is en- 
dowed. 

Sunday morning I attended church. The 
minister did pretty well, considering he grad- 
uated from Andover only last Sept. Singing 
poor — no choir. We boys sung almost as 
much as all the rest put together. 

In the evening we went to the M. E. 
church — dedicatory service of a new edifice. 
They raised yesterday morning twenty thou- 
sand dollars. Last night they made another 
effort to pay the debt. We left at ten, and 
they were then fifteen hundred short. 

George goes home with me Christmas; 
so you must be on the lookout for us. But 
I can't put much more on this sheet, so will 
say Good-bye. 

Give lots of love to father, and write 
soon to 

Your affectionate son Willie. 

Eochester, Dec. 14, 1872. 
My dear Father — 

I thought you and mother would be glad 
to know I passed my examination in "An- 
cient History," this morning, all right. No 
mistake of omission or commission; conse- 



* 



a 



AT COLLEGE. 



83 



quently I feel quite happy. But this is on- 
ly a foretaste. Next week we have Latin, 
French, and mathematics. During the pres- 
ent week I have worked hard, and expect 
to be very busy next week. We are having 
sleighing, and the bells make merry with 
their tintinnabulations. There are some fine 
horses on the streets, but I would not give 
"Nellie" for any of them. 

I expect Geo. Stearns will spend Christ- 
mas with me. He stands "A No. 1" in his 
class, and sings bass. We anticipate great 
pleasure. 

David and Theo keep me pretty well 
posted about general affairs. 

Dr. A. expressed pleasure at the receipt 
of the Autobiography. He continues a pa- 
ternal care over me, and occasionally per- 
mits me to come into his awful presence, for 
the purpose of asking after my health. 

Love to mother, and kind remembrances 
to all inquiring friends. 

Affectionately, your son Willie. 

After a happy Christmas at home, with 
his friend Stearns, Will returned to the Uni- 
versity. 



Examina- 
tions. 



*■ 



* 



* 



84 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



s 



Calculus. 



New pas- 
tor. 



Kochester, Jan'y 11, 1873. 
My dear Father — 

Yours of the 8th is received^ Every 
thing here is progressing as usual. Last 
Monday we paid our respects to Dr. Ken- 
drick — "Demosthenes' orations against Phil- 
lip," and "on the Crown;" Prof. Mixer — 
"Sprechen sie Deutsch;" and Prof. Quimby — 
"Calculus." As to this last, it is almost like 
casting pearls before swine, to set before us 
the beauties (?) of calculus. We can't see 'em. 

So far, our class has been signally blessed 
by Death passing us by. But one of our boys 
is now very sick with erysipelas. I have 
doubts of his recovery. I called on him yes- 
terday, and found him delirious. We boys 
do n't half appreciate the blessings God gives 
us in life and health. 

Before leaving home I accidentally broke 
one of the windows in the door of the coupe, 
and forgot to mention it. 

Mr. Morehouse, our pastor, has come, 
and preached first-rate last Sunday, from 
Eph. 6: 19, 20. There is considerable reli- 
gious interest in the S. S., and we hope for 
an abundant blessing. 

I must not forget to tell you that the 



5* 



* 



OSSIAN'S POEMS. 



^ 



85 



Prof, of Higher Mathematics told the Fac- 
ulty I passed a very creditable examination, 
considering the disadvantages under which 
I labored. I feel it was just, but almost too 
good to be true. Love to mother. 

Affectionately, your son Willie. 



Among* the papers found since my son's 
death, is a composition upon the "Authen- 
ticity of Ossian's Poems," written in college 
about this time. It bears evidence of tho- 
rough study of his subject, and was highly 
commended by his teacher. An eminent 
scholar, who recently read the paper, re- 
turned it with a note, saying: "It shows 
great merit, and independence of judgment, 
in such a young writer. Besides, his decis- 
ion in the matter is decidedly right." 

AUTHENTICITY OF OSSIAN'S POEMS. 
For First Term, Soph. Year. 
In the latter part of the eighteenth cen- 
tury the literary circles of England were 
stirred by the publication of what purported 
to be a translation and compilation of some 
"Gaelic Poems" written in the fourth cen- 
tury. 



£* 



>t< 



* 



* 



86 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Jas. Mac- 
pherson. 



The High- 
lander. 



Frag- 
ments of 
Ancient 
Poetry. 



Fingal. 



* 



The "translator," James Macpherson, was 
born at Kingussie, in 1738, was intended for 
the church, and received the necessary edu- 
cation at Aberdeen. At the age of twenty 
he published the " Highlander," which proved 
at once his ambition and his incapacity. It 
was a miserable production. 

In 1760 he published another volume — 
"Fragments of Ancient Poetry," translated 
from the Gaelic or Erse language. These 
"fragments" he professed to have obtained 
from his countrymen, whom he had heard 
rehearse portions of ancient poems. 

This publication created such an interest, 
that a subscription was made to enable the 
author to visit the highlands and collect such 
other poems as he might be able to find. 
The tour proved quite successful, for in 1762 
an Epic Poem, in six books, called "Fingal," 
was published, and the next year another 
Epic, of eight books, was given to the public. 

These poems attracted general attention, 
and were universally read, but not without 
some misgivings as to their authenticity. 

Mr. Taine's statement will apply as well 
to the prevailing opinion of that time as to 
the present. Alluding to Mr. Macpherson, 



3+- 



* 



OSSIAN S POEMS. 



87 



he says: "A Scotchman, of not overmuch 
wit, having written, to his cost, an unsuc- 
cessful rhapsody, wished to recover himself, 
went to the mountains of his country, gath- 
ered picturesque images, collected fragments 
of legends, plastered over the whole with 
an abundance of eloquence and rhetoric, and 
created a Celtic Homer, Ossian." 

Critics tell us that the plot of "Fingal" 
is the same as that of the "Highlander," 
but that the names of individuals and places 
are changed, and that the poem has been 
embellished with some fragments of Gaelic 
legends. 

The nearest approach to the "Temora," 
that can be found, is in the "Death of Os- 
car," a ballad of sixty stanzas, but the re- 
semblance is so faint as to be hardly recog- 
nizable. 

On account of the controversy that arose 
in regard to the genuineness of these poems, 
the "Highland Society" of Edinboro' ap- 
pointed a committee of inquiry to investigate 
the subject; and in their report the commit- 
tee stated that they had "not been able to 
obtain any one poem the same in title and 
tenor." 



*- 



Taine's 

opinion. 



Commit- 
tee of in- 
quiry- 



Lr 



* 



88 



MEMOIR OF W. 



STICKNEY. 



Who is 
Ossian? 



Historical 
discrepan 



*■ 



It will be remembered, that Mr. Mac- 
pherson makes Ossian a Scotchman, bub tra- 
dition represents him as an Irishman — the 
son of Fionn or Fingal Mac Cumhal. 

In the Chronicon Scotorum, no mention 
is made of King Fingal, and although the 
genealogy of the clans has been pushed to 
the utmost, not a single family has been 
found to be derived from the Fions. They 
were unknown to Monro in his genealogies 
of the claiis, and are mentioned in Buchan- 
an's Surnames as an Irish militia, command- 
ed by Fion Macoel, concerning which, "di- 
vers rude rhymes are retained by the Irish 
and some of the highlanders." 

But even granting that Ossian was a 
Scotchman, there is left a wide field for ar- 
gument. 

First, it would be well to notice some 
historical discrepancies, which are sufficient- 
ly glaring to be considered. 

Beginning about the year two hundred, 
we find that Comhall, the grandfather of 
Ossian, burnt Balclutha, the Alcluith of 
Bede, and the Dumbarton of more modern 
times. But Laing, in his history of Scot- 
land, tells us that this place was built by 



* 



*■ 



OSSIAN'S POEMS. 



* 



89 



the Romans, in 308, and called by them The- 
odosia, in honor of Theodosius, General of 
Valentia; and as more conclusive evidence 
of the non - existence of this town during the 
time of Comhall, Ptolemy, in his enumera- 
tion of the towns of each nation, makes no 
mention of this. 

Again, in Comala, we read of Fingal, 
the father of Ossian, encountering Caracalla 
on the banks of the Carron, which would 
seem to conflict with Mr. Laing's statement, 
that it was not until 258 that the Scots, under 
the leadership of Fergus MacErth, came to 
Scotland. 

In describing the Orkney islands, Mr. 
Macpherson would have us believe that they 
were peopled by the Scandinavians, and that 
the scenery was varied with "aged trees,*' 
and that a "rock, with all its echoing wood" 
and "flaming oaks," were also there; where- 
as, history informs us that they were pos- 
sessed by the Picts; and Solinus, a cotem- 
porary of Fingal, describes the islands as 
"orcades numero tres, vacant homines, non 
habent sylvas, tantum junceis herbis inhor- 
rescunt cetera earum nudse arena? et rupes 
tenent. " 



Quotation 

from 

Solinns. 



* 



* 



* 



90 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Errors not 
confined 

to Ancient 
History. 



Compari- 
son with 
historians. 



S" 



Errors are not by any means confined 
to Ancient History. Messrs. Shaw and Hill, 
also Dr. Young, searched the highlands, but 
could discover nothing concerning "Swa- 
ran," but of Magnus Barefoot, who, seizing 
Cantire and the adjacent isles, was killed in 
the beginning of the twelfth century, and 
who, with an anachronism not uncommon 
in traditions, is represented in some rude 
ballads, as encountering Fingal. 

In the first "fragments" of Fingal, Swa- 
ran was called "'Garva," a literal translation 
of "Magnus" into Erse; but the fictitious 
Swaran was afterwards substituted. 

Thus do we find the historical portion 
of Mr. Macpherson's so-called translations 
untrustworthy. Still another test would we 
suggest, and that is to compare the manners 
and customs of Ossian's time, as set forth by 
Mr. Macpherson, with the opinions of his- 
torians. 

In "Ossian" we read of generous he- 
roes clad in complete steel, and of chivalric 
knights quaffing the wine from sparkling- 
shells in the halls of mossy towers, and tra- 
versing the restless waters of the Northern 
Ocean in large ships. 



* 



>&■ 



V 



OSSIAN S POEMS. 



91 



But Dio, Herodian,- and Hume seem to 
differ from him. They tell us that the na- 
tives discarded any helmet or mail, but, 
armed only with a narrow shield, a lance, 
and a short sword, they kept up the guerilla 
warfare in which they took so much delight; 
that they dwelt in booths, and subsisted on 
pasturage and hunting. 

Solinus informs us that they had no 
means of navigation, except by currachs, 
which cross the Irish channel during a few 
days only of the summer solstice. 

The next question is, if Mr. Macpherson 
did not have any poems to translate, where 
did he obtain his poetical ideas and expres- 
sions? for the " Highlander" certainly proved 
that he did not have the genius to originate 
such poetry. 

Mr. Shaw answers the question, when he 
alludes to "the numerous passages in these 
works evidently plagiarized from the whole 
range of literature, from the Bible and Ho- 
mer down to Shakspeare, Milton, and even 
Thomson." 

One example will serve to illustrate this 
statement. A portion of Ossian's Address to 
the Sun is as follows: "The moon is lost in 



*■ 



Discrep- 
ancies. 



Plagia- 
rism. 



■►£ 



* 



92 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Address to 
the Sun. 



Indiscre- 
tion. 



&~ 



heaven, but thou art forever the same, re- 
joicing in the strength of thy course. But 
to Ossian thou lookest in vain, for he be- 
holdeth thy beams no mpre. v 

In Milton's "Paradise Lost,'* we find the 
same idea, expressed in similar language: 

"But thou 
Revisit' st not these eyes that roll in vain 
To find thy piercing ray." 

Again, in "Samson Agonistes," we read: 

"The sun to me is dark 
And silent as the moon, 
When she deserts the night, 
Hid in her interlunar cave." 

Job, also, uses the words, "He rejoiceth 
in his strength." 

When the poems were first published, 
Mr. Macpherson, untaught by that best of 
teachers, experience, unwisely incorporated 
the following in his preface : 

"Poetry, like virtue, receives its reward 
after death. His [the poet's] foibles, how- 
ever, are obliterated by death, and his better 
part, his writings, remain. His character is 
formed from them, and he that was no ex- 
traordinary man in his own time, becomes 



* 



3+ 



* 



OSSIAN'S POEMS. 



j:; 



the wonder of succeeding ages. Their vir- 
tues remain, but the vices which were once 
blended with their virtues, have died with 
themselves. This consideration might induce 
a man diffident of his abilities to ascribe his 
own compositions to a person whose remote 
antiquity, and whose situation when alive, 
might well answer for faults which would 
be inexcusable in a writer from this age." 

These allusions were certainly uncalled 
for, unless their author was also the author 
of the poems. They were withdrawn from 
subsequent editions. 

In view of the foregoing, the most nat- 
ural conclusion would seem to be, that the 
names of Fingal and Ossian are known 
among the Irish, and perhaps among the 
highlanders to a limited extent, as heroes 
that existed in almost prehistoric times. 

But that over twenty thousand verses. 
with numberless historical facts, could have 
been preserved by oral tradition for fourteen 
centuries, seems preposterous. 

Mr. Wordsworth denies the authenticity 
of the poems, and David Hume wrote Dr. 
Blair, that he had heard "them totally re- 
jected as a palpable and most impudent 



Conclu- 
sion. 



# 



* 



!)4 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Gigantic 
fraud. 



Sociables 
and recep- 
tions 



forgery. This opinion has, indeed, become 
very prevalent among the men of letters in 
London." So that we are not alone in turn- 
ing our backs upon this gigantic fraud prac- 
tised upon the whole literary world. 



Feb'y 8, 1873. 



W. S. Stickney, 

Class '75, U. of R. 



IB- 



Rochester, Feb'y 17, 1873. 
My dear Mother — 

Let me congratulate you upon the return 
of this, your birth day. It may bring with it 
some regrets, but the blessings of God are so 
numerous, that I know you have not for- 
gotten them. Then the day is sunshiny, and 
the air is balmy, harbingers of good. May 
you have, during the year just entered upon, 
all the pleasures, and none of the sorrows, of 
the past year. 

I had a grand time last Friday night. 
The sociable of Mr. Brown's church was to 
be held at Dr. Anderson's residence, and 
having received several invitations I went. 
Mrs. A. gave me a kind reception, and I had 
a good time. 

At half -past ten I took my departure 



■* 



>£■ 



■* 



AT COLLEGE. 



95 



for the reception of Mr. Hiram Sibley, Jr., 
and Mrs. S., nee Harper. The house was 
packed, and the bride was beautifully dressed 
in white satin. The presents were handsome 
and costly. Many of the guests wore pow- 
dered hair, a la Marie Antoinette. Dr. An- 
derson was there, and very agreeable. One 
other student, besides myself, graced the 
company. George sends love. 

Affectionately, your son Willie. 

Rochester, March 1, 1878. 
My dear Father — 

It has been a long while since I have 
heard from home. It may be all true, that 
"no news is good news," but it makes a 
body feel more comfortable to have some 
news, even if it be but little. 

We have been jogging along as usual, at 
the rate of seven days a week. 

Day before yesterday the "Social Union " 
had a meeting, but I did not feel able to 
attend. 

Last week Prof. Gilmore had the Faculty 
of the University, Drs. Strong and Buckland, 
of the seminary, the Revs. Brown and More- 
house, and Gen. Rathburn at his house to 



*■ 



Society. 



* 



* 



* 



m 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Lecture. 



*■ 



spend the evening. All who had wives 
brought them. Of course, in such a select 
company, it was absolutely necessary for 
your son to be present, and I have reason to 
believe he was there; and, judging from his 
remarks upon the subject, I think he had a 
pretty good time. Why not? The supper 
was excellent, and the ladies were very agree- 
able. 

Last night I heard a splendid lecture by 
Wendell Phillips, upon "Froude and the Irish 
Question," spiced with jokes which greatly 
tickled the audience, who were evidently 
sorry when he finished. 

How prosper the church and S. S. ? We 
have first - rate sermons from our pastor, and 
the school is increasing. Two expect to be 
baptized to-morrow. 

Love to mother. 

Your loving son Willie. 

Rochester, March 24, 1873. 
Dear Father — 

Yours, inclosing check, received. 

Saturday we had examination in history, 
and, although I hesitated about going in, as 
I felt rather miserable, I had the satisfaction 



* 



I* 



AT COLLEGE. 



* 



97 



of seeing the Prof, mark my work 10. To- 
day we have Greek, under Dr. Kendrick. 

What time I have left after college stud- 
ies and the paper, is given mostly to church 
meetings, S. S. lessons, and rehearsals. 

I have here cast my first ballot. I tried 
to vote honestly; so, after inquiring about 
the candidates, found there was not much 
choice. Of all the evils, I chose the least. 
My ticket was democratic, liberal republican, 
and republican, and, as it happened, the 
very men I voted for were elected. 

Many thanks for the check. Will be 
home, D. V., the last of this week. 

Love to mother. 
Affectionately, your son Willie. 

Rochester, June 19, 1873. 
My dear Father — 

Yours of 2d inst, enclosing check, pro- 
gramme, and report of organ concert, and 
law- school invitations, all duly to hand. 

I have not written, because we are now 
reviewing, and, owing to my absence at the 
beginning of the term, for me it is all ad- 
vance. Since half -past twelve (it is now 
six) I have read five pages Wm. Tell, seven 

12 



* 



Casts his 
first "ballot 



Review- 
ing 1 . 



* 



* 



98 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Class 
Supper. 



* 



of French selections, and nine in Tacitus. 
Every day I have reason to be thankful that 
I regained my strength before returning, for 
at no other time in my college course have 
I been able to do so much work. 

Friday, the 5th, we had class - supper, 
and it was a success, of course. All the 
boys, except one, went, and we had a tho- 
roughly delightful time. We serenaded Dr. 
Kendrick and Prof. Grilmore, received speech- 
es from each, and a collation, in addition, 
from the latter. 

Our excursion club have decided to do 
the White Mts., instead of the Adirondacks. 

In a few days you will receive prospectus 
of a college paper we ('75) propose to start, 
and would be glad for an ad. of Columbia 
Law- School. Love to mother. 

Affectionately, your son Willie. 

Kochester, June 27, 1873. 
My dear Father — 

Yours of 23d received. The White Moun- 
tain trip includes the Franconia Notch, Craw- 
ford Notch, and Mt. Washington, towards 
Lake Umbagog. Most of the traveling will 
be done on foot. 



4 



* 



AT COLLEGE. 



t* 



99 



I cannot leave before the middle of next 
month, as I attend the convention of the 
Y. M. C. A., at Po'keepsie, as a delegate, 
commencing the 9th. 

Wednesday, had examination in Latin. 
Prof. Morey said I "passed splendidly." — 
Yesterday in French, to-day German. I 
passed pretty well in the last two; and now 
my work is about finished for this year. 

This is the half-way house. We are 
no longer reckoned among the "lower-class 
men," but take our stand as Juniors. 

It does n't seem possible that two years 
have passed, but they are gone, to come up 
again at the last day. In thinking over the 
past, there is no question in my mind, that 
I ' ve grown ; but whether my advancement 
has been as rapid and as steady as it should 
have been, is another thing. My health has 
heretofore been poor, but now is thoroughly 
good, and, with all the blessings a mortal 
can have, I hope to make greater strides 
onward in the future. 

Last Friday night we had a rich joke 
on the Fresh. They went to have their 
class -supper. It is usual to serenade the 
Faculty after the repast. We (Sophs.) col- 



Half - way 
house. 



Sopho- 
mores' 
joke on 
the Fresh- 
men. 



■* 



*■ 



* 



100 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



At Luz- 
erne, N. Y. 



*■ 



lected, and, having found the Fresh, songs, 
sang them to the Profs. Dr. Kendrick came 
out and talked to us about '76, and praised 
us sky high, never suspecting any thing 
wrong. We then went to Prof. Gilmore's, 
and he thanked us for our kindness, and 
lauded the class of '76. We then went to 
Dr. K.'s, and hid. Pretty soon the Fresh, 
came and sang, and sang, and sang; finally 
the Dr. came to the ivindoiv, and said, "'76 
again! '76 is all glorious!" Whereupon we 
relieved the Fresh, of their astonishment by 
showing ourselves. They did not serenade 
any more that night. 

Love to mother and yourself. 
Your affectionate son Willie. 

Luzerne, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1873. 
My dear Mother — 

I expect you begin to wonder what has 
become of your boy. Well, you see we are 
in the "stupidest place in the world," to use 
the language of the proprietor of our "Way- 
side Inn." It may be stupid, but it is a 
relief after being at Saratoga. 

We are surrounded by a spur of the Ad- 
irondacks, and at a stone's throw from the 



+* 



ifr 



* 



VACATION. 



101 



hotel is Lake Luzerne, a small but very- 
beautiful sheet of water, where ladies and 
children amuse themselves by rowing and 
fishing. 

Though the "Lake of the Four Cantons" 
is suggested by the name, there is no re- 
semblance between them. The high hills 
and small mountains, far and near, are very 
thickly wooded, softening the landscape, and 
varying it by different shades of green. 
Close by is a pine grove so dense the rays 
of the sun seldom penetrate it. This is a 
favorite resort for the ladies, to keep cool 
and sniff the aromatic air. This a. m. father 
and I fished for a little while in the Hudson, 
ten minutes' walk distant. We were told 
it was a splendid place for "fishing," and 
we found it so — but did not have a nibble. 
The hotel is comfortable, has no bar, and is 
a nice place for drinking copious draughts 
of pure, fresh air, and for reading the book 
of Nature from the works of God, so exten- 
sively spread out before us. 

I expect to visit my friend George Ord- 
way, at Waterloo. 

We didn't go to the White Mts., after 
all. As the trip was abandoned, father sent 

ft> T A • n i-i -i—ii i ■■■ ii ii ii ■ ■!! in 



Fisliim 



V 



*■ 



102 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Interest in 
the church 
and chapel 



at 



me word to meet him in Saratoga, and we 
have been together ever since — both in ex- 
cellent health, and both wish you were with 
us. 

How come on the church, S. S., and Ken- 
dall Chapel? Father sends "lots of love," 
and take "lots more" from 

Your affectionate son Willie. 

Camp on Kearsarge Mountain, 1ST. H., 
Aug. 13, 1873. 
Dear Father — 

Will leave for New Market Junction 
Monday, and will be with you at Bangor 
Tuesday, if nothing happens. We are hav- 
ing a splendid time — cooking our own meals, 
sleeping on spruce boughs, &c. 

With love, your son Willie. 

Waterloo, K H., Aug. 15, 1873. 
My dear Mother — 

You see I am still here, but to-morrow 
expect to go to Fisherville, leaving there 
Monday, and reaching Bangor Tuesday at 
seven a. m. , if all is well. 

We "broke camp" on Mount Kearsarge 
day before yesterday. I have had a splen- 



* 



*■ 



* 



VACATION 



103 



did time; but I must tell you about it. Last 
Thursday, before I was at this house two 
hours, one of the boys drove up to the door, 
saluting me with, "You are the very fellow 
I want." I retired to my room, but soon 
appeared in a bluish -gray shirt, old pair of 
pants stuck in my boot legs, and to crown 
my "classic brow," my old felt hat (your 
delight ?); no vest or coat — the flannel shirt 
being sufficiently warm to keep me com- 
fortable. In our wagon could be found ice, 
baked beans, coffee, sugar, etc., etc. 

About ten o'clock, after a six mile ride, 
we reached our destination. The boys heard 
I was coming, and came down the hill and 
gave me a hearty, and I think, sincere wel- 
come. A cup of coffee was soon made, and 
in the bright moonlight, with the mountains 
in silent grandeur looking down upon us, we 
took our evening meal. The tent was close 
by, and we soon retired to it. Spruce boughs 
formed our mattress, and over us we had a 
number of "comfortables." I slept soundly. 

The next day we took turns washing 
dishes and doing the necessary chores about 
the camp. One day we took a tramp of 
thirteen miles, fishing and gunning. The 



3+ 



In camp. 



# 



* 



104 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■t& 



Recrea- 
tion. 



views were magnificent. The scenery here 
is not grand, but the views are beautiful, 
and, by the dim light of the moon, are al- 
most sublime. 

Wednesday we concluded to descend to 
civilization. Accordingly, our camp was 
struck, and we have resumed our white 
shirts, collars, cuffs, and blacked boots. 

I had some headache yesterday, but feel 
rather better to - day. My visit here, at Mr. 
and Mrs. Ordways', has been very pleasant. 

You have doubtless read of the sad affair 
of the Wawasset. What a blessing it is to 
know that He who made us, said, "I am with 
you alway." Those words have volumes of 
meaning, and worlds of comfort to me. 

Take good care of your health, and do 
not forget, God wants the work of our bodies 
when they are in their best condition — our 
best work. With love. 

Your affectionate son Willie. 



Returns to 
college. 



*■ 



After a pleasant visit to Maine, Will re- 
turned, in good condition, to his studies, 
somewhat hastened by his duties as Secre- 
tary of the Board of Editors of the college 
paper. 



* 



>* 



AT COLLEGE. 



* 



105 



Rochester, Sept. 23, 1873. 
Dear Father — 

Having studied all my lessons since six 
o'clock, I have yet a few moments before 
breakfast. My health is good, and we are 
very busy. Seventy have been examined — 
about fifty in Freshman class. 

Please send on the ad. for the Col. Uni- 
versity soon as possible. Our paper goes to 
press Saturday, but will not be issued till 
Tuesday. Make the Law department prom- 
inent. 

I am reading in college, Sophocles' Ajax, 
and studying Philosophy and Logic — enough 
to keep us very busy. All seemed glad to 
see me, when I made my appearance at 
church last Sunday. 

The bell has rung. Give love to mother. 
Write soon, to 

Your affectionate son Willie. 

Rochester, Oct. 1, 1873. 
My dear Mother — 

I believe this is my first letter to you this 
term. You must take the will for the deed. 
We are very busy unraveling hard problems 
in mechanics, cracking hard nuts of logic, 

13 



* 



Study. 



•M 



*■ 



106 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



College 
paper. 



* 



and digging up Greek roots. Besides this, 
we are to publish "The University Rec- 
ord." But the paper has gone to press, and 
I 've finished copying my notes in logic and 
philosophy, and Dr. Kendrick will not be 
here to-morrow, so I have plenty of time 
to write to - day. 

The first number of our paper will be 
out Friday. Receiving no ad. from father 
for the University, I wrote one myself, giv- 
ing, as a compliment, two squares to the 
Law- school, in the first issue, whereas they 
only engaged one. 

Tell father I have about given up the 
boat idea, as a useless expense. It costs 
less to hire than to build. 

Met Uncle John, from Rockville, yester- 
day, on his way home from A. B. C. F. M. 
Went about with him some, and dined with 
him at the Osborn. He left at three p. m. 

With love to yourself and father, and 
kind regards to friends, 

Your affectionate son Willie. 

Rochester, Oct. 25, 1873. 
My dear Father— 

This morning the expressman came up 



* 



t& 



■►5 



AT COLLEGE. 



107 



and announced "a box" for me. I was ex- 
pecting it, for mother's letter, received last 
night, announced its coming. Of course it 
was soon opened, and from the hay and pa- 
per emerged the beautiful present. I had 
no idea it would be so elegant, so I was the 
more surprised. The figures came in good 
shape, except the arm of Plato was cracked. 

And now let me thank you and mother 
for your gifts. I am very much obliged, 
and will \rj to prove myself worthy of them. 
I think I really want to do only that which 
is right, but sometimes I forget myself, and 
utterly fail. 

I do n't know as I felt very different 
yesterday [his 21st birthday] in entering the 
2d Act of my life, from what I usually do. 
I have no desire to be different in any re- 
spect, except to grow in my christian life. 
All that I am, I know I owe to God and my 
parents, and my earnest desire and purpose 
is, that neither may be dishonored nor dis- 
graced. What I have done in times past 
that was wrong or annoying to you, I 'm 
sorry for, and hope you will forget it, know- 
ing you have forgiven. 

My health, now, is very good, so I do 



* 



Gifts from 
home. 



Twenty- 
first 
T>irthday. 



* 



* 



■© 



108 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Thanks- 
giving. 



Oral dis- 
sertation. 



* 



my share of the work, which is quite a good 
deal. The second issue of the paper will 
soon appear. 

With love to you and mother, I am 
Your affectionate son Willie. 

Rochester, Nov. 28, 1873. 
My dear Mother — 

Friday afternoon has again come around, 
and I take pleasure in writing you all the 
news. The box, with its contents, came all 
right. Many thanks. 

Thanksgiving day has come and gone. 
I took dinner here with four or five of the 
boys. After dinner, which was a good one, 
we sang the inclosed programme. At the 
second "music" I presided at the piano. 
The church was full. Prof, read, among 
other things, Jean Ingelow's "Divided." If 
you have it, please read it; I think you will 
like it. After the Sociable, about forty of 
us adjourned to the house of one of the 
Trustees, as a surprise (?) party. There we 
had a good time, and enjoyed a fine collation. 

This a. m. I had to deliver an "oral dis- 
sertation" before the class, on the "Musi- 
cians of England." Prof. Gilmore, and a 



* 



* 



■fc 



AT COLLEGE. 



109 



good many of the boys, complimented me 
on my performance. 

My health is first rate. I have been 
thinking how much we have to be thankful 
for; and, in looking over the year, I could n't 
wish any thing God had given me different 
from what it was. I try to do right, and 
live very near to my Savior, but sometimes, 
I know, I wander. How important to watch 
and pray. 

Lots of love to you and father. 

Your affectionate son Willie. 

A pleasant Christmas home, in company 
with his friend Stearns, and Will again re- 
turned to college. 

Rochester, Jan'y 15, 1874. 

[The anniversary of his parents' marriage.] 

Mv dear Mother — 

Twenty- two years ago to - day 



well, I 

wont say any more, except to offer to you 
and father my sincere congratulations, with 
the hope you may see many anniversaries 
of this day. 

We are crowding a great deal of work 
in a very little time, and, as it is all occu- 
pied, the days seem short. 



*■ 



Review of 
the year. 



At work in 
college 
and in 
church. 



■* 



110 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Revival. 



* 



Our class is gradually losing its men. 
Ordway expects to leave for a position in 
Washington. Church matters are prosper- 
ing; prayer meetings last week, this, and 
next. Last Sunday I received many com- 
pliments from my church friends for my 
playing. 

College matters moving along as usual. 
"The [college] days of life are sisters — all 
alike, none just the same." 

I must tell a joke on a sub -Fresh., who 
went to see the Dr. Having heard him spo- 
ken of as Prex, he addressed him as "Pro- 
fessor Prex." He said afterward, he thought 
" the Professor" had a very peculiar expres- 
sion on his face ! 

With love to father. 

Your affectionate son Willie. 

Rochester, Feb'y 13, 1874. 
My dear Mother — 

Yours of the Oth inst. came to me while 
at prayer meeting, night before last, and it 
made my "cup full to running over." At 
the meeting, a young lady for whom I had 
prayed earnestly, said she had found her 
Savior. I will tell you why I was so much 



■* 



* 



AT COLLEGE. 



* 



111 



interested in her. There has been a good 
deal of interest in the S. S. , and my scholars 
being all christians, I endeavored to set them 
to work. Prof. G., seeing I was pretty well 
waked up, put two classes in my charge. 
This was last Sunday. I was introduced to 
the girls — from 12 to 16 years of age. I 
talked seriously with them, and one prom- 
ised to give up every thing for Jesus. 

Monday night I went to the inquiry 
meeting. I hunted up this one of my pro- 
teges, and the first words she said to me 
were, "I love Jesus." I was very happy; 
and did I not have reason to be? Nine of 
my "Parish," as Prof, calls it, are now serv- 
ing Jesus. Ten more yet to come. Pray 
for them and for me. About sixty have 
been converted in the past few weeks. Last 
Sunday night eleven were baptized. Many 
families are being completed. God is bless- 
ing us abundantly. 

Tell father to read the leading editorial 
in the next issue of our paper, and tell me 
what he thinks of it. 

It is the first of my productions that 
has been complimented by the President. 
He read it before it was put in type. 



*■ 



Conver- 
sion of hh 
SaM.ath 
School 
scholars. 



* 



* 



112 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Anxiety 
for reli- 
gious in- 
terest at 
home. 



Love to father and yourself. 
Your affectionate son 



Willie. 



>Z+ 



Kochester, March 14, 1874. 
My dear Mother — 

Saturday night yours of 12th inst. was 
received. Was surprised to hear of uncle 
George Kendall's death. 

" 'T is sweet, as year by year we lose 
Friends out of sight, in faith to muse 
How grows in Paradise our store." 

I hope you will reap abundant harvest 
for all the work done, and prayers offered 
at Calvary Church. 

Is there any religious interest in the Mis- 
sions? I am glad Eva is at work. I feel 
more and more that we can do effectual 
work every day, letting our love for the 
Savior manifest itself in the various situa- 
tions in which we are placed. 

College will probably close next week. 
I expect to be home Saturday night, to stay 
just a week. 

Love to father. 

Your affectionate son Willie. 



* 



*- 



AT COLLEGE. 



* 



113 



Rochester, June 26, 1874. 
My dear Father — 

To - day closes another year's work. This 
a. m. we passed our last Junior examination, 
so now we are Seniors ! ! 

Yesterday was examination in astrono- 
my, in which I scored 10. Wednesday I 
worked from 9 in the morning till 9-J- at night 
on my astronomy, and even then I trembled 
a little, when the time came — so much of it 
was advance to me. But I went through 
splendidly. To-day we have had a "writ- 
ten" in Cicero "de Officiis." I answered all 
the questions. 

Our class makes its first appearance in 
public next Monday — Class day. We sing a 
song to the " Bone -man" (a skeleton), which 
the graduating class presents to us. I am 
leader of the singing. 

What is the projective point for the sum- 
mer — Bolton or Delaware Water -Gap? 

My health is again first rate. I have but 
little headache. I have been elected Pres't 
of the College Y. M. C. A., and reelected 
Editor of the Record for first six months of 
next year. Love to mother. 

Affectionately, your son Willie. 



Enters Se- 
nior class. 



Song to 
the "Bone- 
man." 



Pres't of 

College Y. 

M. C. A. 



>& 



* 



■6& 



114 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Director 
of College 
Glee Clul). 



*■ 



Rochester, Nov. 17, 1874. 
My dear Father — 

Am glad Mr. Hall thought so well of my 
efforts as a delegate at Syracuse Y. M. C. A. 
Convention. Dr. A. made the speech of the 
meeting. 

Last week a College Glee Club was or- 
ganized, and I was made Director. The Y. 
M. C. A. nourishes. I wish churches and 
christians generally would pray more for the 
young men in college. 

Our church has lately been considerably 
exercised by the pastor's having received 
two calls. He has decided to acquiesce in 
the wishes of the church, and remain. There 
is much interest here, and we hope to see 
good work done for the Master this fall and 
winter. 

Affectionately, your son Willie. 

Rochester, Dec. 11, 1874. 
My dear Mother — 

I suppose you think it is most time for 
"the boy" to write. Well, I've been pretty 
busy lately in preparation for examinations. 
This a. m. I passed examination in Dr. An- 
derson's department — Intellectual Philoso- 



■tt< 



* 



AT COLLEGE. 



* 



115 



phy, and received 9, though I did not make 
a single mistake. Did the Rogers group 
come all right? I must tell you about it. 
Thanksgiving day I took dinner with Stearns 
in Buffalo, returning in the p. m., to be ready 
for college the next day. 

That night there was a sociable in the 
church. The room was full. I went late. 
We had some singing, and then the pastor 
brought out, with the assistance of another, 
the group, "The Favored Scholar." I ad- 
mired it, of course; listened, not very atten- 
tively, to the preliminary remarks of the 
pastor, and was never more surprised than 
to hear my name announced as the favored 
one. My reply was brief. It is the first gift 
I ever received from comparative strangers, 
and I prize it very highly. [This handsome 
present was made in recognition of his effi- 
cient services as conductor of the church 
choir. ] 

My health is good, when I am careful of 
my diet; but I '11 be glad to get home from 
here. Be it ever so lonely, (?) there's no 
place like home. 

Love to mother. 
Affectionately, your son Willie. 



*■ 



Gift for 

services as 

chorister 

at the 

church. 



* 



*■ 



116 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Study of 

"Roman 

law. 



Reading. 



* 



Rochester, Jan'y 15, 1875. 
My dear Father — 

Away nearly two weeks, and not a word 
from home. I hope to hear very soon. 

I have been very busy the past week 
studying Roman Law, Physical Geography, 
and Mental Philosophy, in college, and the 
Vatican Decrees, for Society debate. 

The more I study the Roman Law, the 
better I like it. These crystallizations of 
men's thoughts in regard to the relations of 
ineum and tuum are grand. With the lec- 
tures that the Professor dictates, we read in 
Justinian's Institutes. 

Mental Philosophy is about as uncertain 
as Rochester weather — sometimes clear, and 
then foggy. 

My reading on the Vatican Decrees is 
quite extensive and benefiting. I have had 
to study English, French, and German His- 
tory, to understand the subject at all. Last 
night I had about me seven books of refer- 
ence while studying Gladstone's Expostula- 
tions. I am learning how to use books — 
"reading across," as Dr. Anderson calls it: 
studying by subjects, not by books. 

Please send me "Hadlev's Lectures on 



* 



*■ 



AT COLLEGE. 



* 



11 



Roman Law." You will find it in my book- 
case. I carried it home last May, and left it 
there. 

Remember me kindly to inquiring friends, 
and give love to mother. Write soon to 

Your affectionate son Willie. 

This habit of "reading across" was never 
lost; for he was not only choice in the selection 
of his reading, but also careful to get at the 
meaning of the author, and to make the 
knowledge thus acquired of service to him. 
Hence the note -book was his constant com- 
panion. In the wild regions of the Indian 
Territory, when a member of the Ute Com- 
mission, he found time not only to read, but 
also to fill his book with notes of what he 
had read. 

Himself so intelligent and pure in his 
reading, it was not strange that he should 
have been desirous that all who were under 
his care and instruction should be equally so. 
For this reason, he exercised a judicious care 
over the library of the Sunday School of 
which he was superintendent, and sought to 
create in the scholars a taste for the best 
classes of literature, as well as to lead them 



Note liook 



Sunday 

reading. 



* 



* 



3+ 



118 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Commu- 
nion with 
the oeau- 
tiful in the 

works of 
nature. 



Recrea- 
tion. 



in the choice of their reading to remember 
the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 

In reading his letters, one is impressed 
with his deep and constant communion with 
the beautiful in the works of Nature, as well 
as in the realm of mind and of morals. No 
one had a heartier appreciation of the unity 
thus indicated in the 19th Psalm, when Da- 
vid turns from the contemplation of the per- 
fectness of the law of the material world to 
find its counterpart in the law of spirit -ex- 
istence. Hence to him the book of Nature, 
as well as the book of revelation, declared 
the glory of God. To the one, as to the 
other, he turned for the refreshment of his 
mind, in the exhaustion caused -by hard 
study. 

Indeed, it may be said of him, in a gen- 
eral sense, that, in seeking recreation, he 
always gave the preference to those methods 
to which evil did not attach, even in appear- 
ance, and which informed and strengthened 
the mind, rather than dissipated it. For this 
reason, in many of the amusements to which 
youth resorts, he had no interest. Among 
his papers was found, after his death, a 
game of Proverbs, the object of which was 



* 



* 



* 



AT COLLEGE. 



119 



not only to furnish diversion, but also, at the 
same time, to lead to memorizing of this 
portion of the Word of God. 

Rochester, Feb'y 15, 1875. 
My dear Father — 

Many thanks for yours of the 11th inst., 
with its inclosure. 

Since my last, I have been on a little 
excursion. Not feeling particularly bright 
last Thursday, I persuaded Ordway to go 
with me to the Falls. We left on the 10:05 
train. At Lockport I ran across our fellow- 
traveler, met on the St. Lawrence on H. M. 
S. S. "Secret," Mr. McCollum. We had a 
pleasant chat. 

At two we reached the Falls — the weath- 
er we hoped to leave in R. coming with us. 
First, dinner at the Spencer House, and then 
hunt for a sleigh. Finally engaged one for 
the p. M., for $2.50. Our first visit was to 
Prospect Point. Imagine our appearance — 
an old hack on runners, two poor horses, 
three robes over our knees, and the snow 
blowing and eddying around us, and in our 
faces, sometimes almost blinding us; and yet 
we enjoyed it. 



*■ 



Visits Nia- 
gara Falls. 



* 



'*■ 



120 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY 



* 



Winter 
landscape. 



*■ 



On the Point the trees and foliagp were 
covered with iced snow. The pavilion was 
wreathed in the same pure alabaster - like 
covering, looking as beautiful and forsaken 
as the Palace at Versailles when we saw it, 
or the royal residences at Schonbrunnen. 

We next crossed the rapids to Goat 
Island, and went to Luna Island. Here we 
gained our best view of the American Fall. 
The centre was obstructed by ice, which ex- 
tended in huge icicles to the bottom of the 
Fall. Many of these were split up into sev- 
eral, when near the bottom, making "fring- 
es " and " open work "of singular beauty. At 
the bottom of the Fall were large "mounds," 
from beneath which the water pours, as we 
saw it at Griindelwald and the Mer de Glace. 

Our next stopping place was on the Tow- 
er-side of the island. There was less ice on 
the Canada Fall, and the mounds were not 
so large. The view up the river was strik- 
ingly desolate. 

We crossed the new bridge, the wind 
blowing the sleigh against the railing, and 
producing an undulating motion to the 
bridge, that made a foot-passenger, crossing 
at the same time we did, quite sea -sick. 



* 



•ifr 



AT COLLEGE. 



* 



121 



From the Canada shore the view was very 
grand. The river below was frozen, and 
huge masses were piled up to an enormous 
size and height. While looking at this Fall 
some large pieces of ice came over, produc- 
ing a noise like the booming of distant can- 
non. 

Purchasing a few photos, we returned 
to the Spencer, well pleased with our sight- 
seeing. At 8 took the return train; stormed 
several snow drifts, causing a shock to the 
whole train, and reached R. safely at mid- 
night. 

Love to mother, kind regards to Mr. and 
Mrs. J. , and Jeannie R. 

Your affectionate son Willie. 

The foregoing closes Will's correspond- 
ence while in the University at Rochester. 

His parents had the pleasure of being 
present at the commencement exercises in 
Corinthian Hall, Rochester, Wednesday, June 
30, 1875, and were never more proud of their 
boy than when listening to his manly ora- 
tion on that occasion. 

His subject was, "Why should the State 
Educate?" His oration displayed excellence 



Gradua- 
tion. 



%r 



122 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



« 



Oration. 



Rough 

draft of his 

oration. 



* 



both of style and composition; originality of 
thought; and a grasp of the subject seldom 
attained in one of his years. His delivery 
was elegant and graceful, eliciting general 
applause from his immense audience. 

His parents were equally gratified to find 
their son enjoyed the friendship of a large 
circle of acquaintances, who were lavish in 
their praises of his usefulness, his purity of 
life, and nobility of character. 

He had passed through this critical pe- 
riod, not only without reproach, but had 
won the confidence and esteem of all with 
whom he had associated — an honor, in the 
estimation of his parents, far outweighing 
in value that of a diploma from his Alma 
Mater, highly as they prized that. 

Though diligent search has been made 
among his papers, we have been unable to 
find a copy of his oration. 

The following "rough draft," copied from 
his notes, gives an imperfect idea of the fin- 
ished oration, but covers its essential points: 






t<- 



AT COLLEGE. 



123 



* 



WHY SHO ULD THE ST A TE ED UCA TE ? 

It is the function of the State to enforce 
respect for the rights of property and protect 
human life. 

It is clearly the privilege of the State to 
maintain its own existence. 

If these propositions are admitted, it fol- 
lows that it is the duty of the State to ele- 
vate the substrata of society, that never- 
failing source of peril to life, property, and 
the very existence of the State, by providing 
them the means for a certain degree of intel- 
lectual training; not with the State an end 
in itself, but simply a means to an end. 

There can be no question that every 
individual needs a certain amount of edu- 
cation, that he may intelligently perform the 
functions of citizenship. 

The prosperity of the individual is the 
prosperity of the State. 

Even under despotic governments this 
principle is recognized and acted upon. 

There can be no doubt that one's man- 
hood is promoted, and his independence of 
character asserted, by affording him this 
means of intellectual training. 



Function 
of the 

State. 



Duty of 
the State. 



Education 
necessary 
to intelli- 
gent citi- 
zenship. 



Education 
promotes 
manhood. 



* 



* 



* 



* 



124 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Another 
reason for 
State edu- 
cation. 



How far 
should the 
State edu- 
cate? 



The truth of this proposition appears 
self-evident. Where the masses are suf- 
fered to grow up in ignorance, they are 
at all times liable to become the dupes 
of wily politicians and unscrupulous dema- 
gogues. 

Another reason why the State should 
educate, exists in the fact that we are annu- 
ally receiving, by immigration, an army of 
foreigners, essentially un -American in tastes 
and habits. 

This vast aggregation of humanity can 
in no way be absorbed and assimilated in 
our national life, and become thoroughly 
Americanized so effectively, as by placing 
within their reach the means of instruc- 
tion. 

If it be asked, ''How far is the State 
warranted in carrying the education of its 
citizens?" the reply is not difficult. 

The object should be kept steadily in 
view, viz. : to make good, intelligent citi- 
zens, able to understand our form of gov- 
ernment and comprehend its laws. 

To accomplish this, a man is not obliged 
to be familiar with Lecky on Morals, or puz- 
zle his brain over law books. The rudiments 



* 



* 



AT COLLEGE. 



125 



* 



of an education, or what is usually known 
as the common, elementary branches of 
knowledge, are all that is required. 

Certain visionary schemers contend that 
it is the duty of the State to maintain col- 
leges and technical schools. This is clearly 
beyond the province of the State. With 
higher education it has no more to do than 
it has with religion. 

It may, and should, educate sufficiently 
for self -protection — for this an ornamental 
education is not essential. 

If this view is correct, the State clearly 
has no right to appropriate money for college 
buildings, or Professors' salaries. Such leg- 
islation is usurpation. It is using the money 
of the people for the higher education of a 
privileged class, inasmuch as a large major- 
ity of the youth of school age can never reap 
the benefit of a college education, even if 
provided at the public expense. 

If a common school education is suffi- 
cient to meet the demands of the State, the 
State education should there stop. 

If it is necessary for the State to train 
teachers for common schools, let this be 
done; but. at the same time, let care be 



3+ 



The State 

should not 

maintain 

colleges. 



Ornamen- 
tal educa- 
tion not 

essential. 



Common 
schools. 



* 



* 



* 



126 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Erroneous 

views. 



Must not 
educate a 
lew at the 
expense of 
the many. 



Aristocra- 
cy. 



*- 



taken that all the people should share di- 
rectly in the benefits. 

Misled by the notion that a republic con- 
templates not merely the political, but the 
social and intellectual equality of its citizens, 
the champions of public colleges claim that 
every boy in the land must be furnished, at 
public cost, with facilities for studying chem- 
istry, farming, engineering, and even the 
dead languages. Such views are anti- re- 
publican, and wholly at variance with the 
spirit of our institutions. 

No logic, however subtle, can make it 
consistent with the true ideas of a republic 
to confer upon the State the duty or right to 
educate the few at the expense of the many. 
Such a policy consists better with aristocracy 
than democracy. 

After spending a few months in recrea- 
tion, Will returned once more to his home, 
to prosecute his studies for the legal profes- 
sion. He entered, with his accustomed zeal, 
into all activities of the church and Sunday 
School, never growing weary of them, never 
faltering, but devoting to them all the ener- 
gies of his being. 



* 



* 



AT HOME. 



121 



•* 



He presided at the. piano in the Home 
school, with such skill and good taste, as 
made him an universal favorite; he was 
teacher of a class in the Home school, in 
the morning, and in Kendall Chapel, in the 
afternoon. Constant in his attendance upon 
meetings; ready to contribute to his utmost 
in promoting their usefulness; always prompt 
in offering his services where they might be 
the most useful; liberal in his pecuniary con- 
tributions to every benevolent and worthy 
object; cheerful in rendering assistance to 
his father by every means in his power, he 
sought, unselfishly and unostentatiously, to 
devote himself to the Church of Christ and 
the good of his fellow- men. 

In October, 1876, he entered the junior 
class in the Law School of Columbian Uni- 
versity, and, at the same time, enrolled 
himself among the students of the Wash- 
ington Business College for a year's study 
in practical business methods. 

In June, 1876, he graduated from the 
college, with the honor of the Valedictory. 
He acquired a leading influence over his 
fellow- students, and won the respect and 
confidence of his teachers, who expressed a 



Abound- 
ing in 

church 
work. 



Enters 
Law 

School and 
Business 
College. 



Graduates 
from Busi- 
ness Col- 
lege. 



*■ 



■© 



►fr 



128 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Valedic- 
tory. 



Voyage of 
life. 



strong desire to have him remain in the 
college as an instructor. 

His Valedictory, on the occasion of his 
graduation from the Business College, de- 
livered at Lincoln Hall, Thursday night, 
June 1, 1876, was as follows: 

VALEDICTORY BY W. S. STICKNEY. 

The ship, about to enter upon a perilous 
voyage, with sails spread to the favoring 
wind, dismisses the pilot whose skill has 
directed her course through the intricacies of 
the harbor, and so breaks the only remain- 
ing link that binds her to her native land. 

We, the graduating class of this college, 
started on our course by skillful navigators, 
to-night cast off our moorings, and, with 
buoyant hopes, enter upon the voyage of 
life, fraught with perils, but full of grand 
possibilities. 

To-night past scenes crowd our mem- 
ories, and, while our minds are filled with 
pleasing reminiscences, we are forced to the 
reality that henceforth new experiences, new 
associations, and new duties await us. The 
pleasures of memory, however, are still ours 
to enjoy and cherish; photographed on the 



•* 



*■ 



■►5 



AT HOME. 



129 



mind by a process more beautiful and more 
mysterious than man's philosophy ever de- 
vised, and with a distinctness that time itself 
cannot efface, we bear them with us, precious 
treasures, mementoes of the days that are past. 

Our attachment to this Business College 
is no sentiment, no figment of the imagina- 
tion, but true and genuine, founded, as it is, 
upon the knowledge experience gives us of 
its great influence and importance. Let it be 
understood we are not of those who decry 
the importance of classical learning, of cul- 
ture, and all the adornments of a finished 
education. But life is, now- a -days, emphat- 
ically, a struggle; a thorough knowledge of 
affairs is absolutely necessary to him who 
would cope successfully with the exigencies 
and difficulties to be encountered. 

The foundation must be deep and solid if 
the superstructure would survive. A busi- 
ness training is to a business man what dis- 
cipline is to an army. 

Our banks and mercantile houses are 
full of cripples, who go limping through life, 
when a few years of study in the Business 
College would have rendered them efficient 
and successful. 



Impor- 
tance of 
classical 
training. 



Practical 
knowl- 
edge. 



* 



* 



& 



* 



130 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Methods. 



With our school - room divided into streets 
and squares, the real estate agent finds am- 
ple opportunity to ply his vocation and real- 
ize handsome profits. 

The College Bank, instituted on the true 
Jackson theory of hard money, discounts 
notes with good endorsers, fears no suspen- 
sion, draws its bills of exchange, and issues 
its notes redeemable at maturity. Its capital 
is unimpaired, its management honest, its 
assets always exceeding its liabilities. 

Our transportation and commission busi- 
ness, successfully conducted on a sound basis, 
leads one into all the intricacies of trade and 
commerce. 

Neither is the art preservative of all arts 
here neglected. The newspaper taxes the 
brain and calls into exercise the talent of 
him who would enlighten his fellow- students 
upon the current questions of the times. 

These are but an outline of the methods 
and processes by which a student can, in a 
brief space, furnish himself with the means 
of usefulness and success. 

As the great mass of mankind hurries 
restlessly on, ever seeking and never satis- 
fied, the inefficient and the sluggard are 



* 



•p 



* 



AT HOME. 



* 



131 



rudely thrust aside or. are trodden down. 
Selfishness loves few and pities none. Al- 
though each may persuade himself he is 
seeking the "greatest good of the greatest 
number," the "greatest number" is gener- 
ally number one, and the "greatest good" 
his own aggrandizement. 

The merchant of to-day has the whole 
world for his market, and all its inhabitants 
for customers. The iron horse has supplant- 
ed the slow coaches in which our ancestors 
rode. The lightning has been civilized, and 
is now our swift -winged messenger, anni- 
hilating time and space. The ends of the 
earth are within speaking distance, and its 
most remote inhabitant is our neighbor. 
With all these advantages, the sine qua non 
of the business man of to - day is energy and 
brains. Taught how to use his brains, and 
all directed by a true morality, a young 
man's possibilities are as illimitable as truth, 
as sublime as immortality. 

The graduating class of '76 is the Cen- 
tennial offering of the Washington Business 
College. 'T is ours to enter upon the active 
duties of life with greater responsibilities 
and greater advantages than were ever 



Progress. 



Business 
qualities. 



* 



•►£ 



* 



132 



■>& 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Centenni- 
al offering. 



* 



given to man before. There is laid at our 
feet the experience of the grandest centu- 
ry in the history of the world. A period 
marked by no such peaceful grandeur as 
characterized the Augustan age, or the 
Elizabethan era — but one eminent for its 
mighty men, for its advance in physical and 
metaphysical research, and for the develop- 
ment of an idea at once sublime and God- 
like; the idea, cherished by every American 
heart, that all men are created free and 
equal. Inaugurated when John Hancock 
and his compatriots signed the immortal 
Declaration of Independence, consummated 
when Abraham Lincoln gave to the world 
the Proclamation of Emancipation. 

As Newton stood on Kepler's shoulders, 
it will be expected of us that, resting on the 
experience and knowledge of the past, we 
will reach up still higher, grasp grander 
truths, solve mightier problems, and so help 
enlarge the horizon of human knowledge. 

We leave our halls of study and pleasure 
with regret. We linger to say good - bye to 
you whose genius has directed our studies 
and inspired us with a noble ambition. We 
shall endeavor to profit by your counsel, and 



* 



*■ 



AT HOME. 



* 



133 



bring no discredit upon our college. May 
you be spared these many years as faithful 
guides to the young of Washington; and 
when these days draw to a close may they 
be radiant with a beauty that shall be a 
promise of the joy and happiness beyond. 

To you, ladies and gentlemen, who have 
so kindly listened to our exercises, we extend 
our thanks. We commend to your care and 
good -will the Business College of Washing- 
ton. Honored by the lives of its former 
graduates, may its reputation be still further 
enhanced by those now taking their leave. 

From the Business College we graduate 
into the great common school of life. We 
enter with you in the race for success, and, 
seeking it on the basis of truth, we know we 
shall succeed, for though 

"Truth is ever on the scaffold, 

And Wrong is ever on the throne, 

Yet that scaffold sways the future ; 
And behind the great unknown 

Standeth God within the shadow, 
Keeping watch above His own." 



* 



Good 
wishes. 



* 



* 



134 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Useful- 
ness. 



Zeal as a 
student. 



Health. 



Literary 
Oluh. 



Music 



Will continued his studies at the Law- 
school, giving, also, much time in assisting 
his father. 

He seemed to derive real pleasure in be- 
ing useful to others, though far from enjoy- 
ing good health. 

His anxiety to sustain himself among his 
fellow law- students, often kept him at his 
studies when he should have been in the 
open air, seeking recreation. 

Many a night, when poring over his 
books till a late hour, has he been told to 
lay them aside and go to bed. But though 
of weak constitution, he was seldom totally 
disabled by sickness. He was generally able 
to attend recitation at Law- school, and sel- 
dom, or never, absent from church or Sunday 
School. 

He mingled but little in society, and had 
but a limited circle of acquaintance outside 
the church. 

He had joined a literary club, in whose 
meetings he took great pleasure. 

Music, vocal and instrumental, always 
afforded him recreation and satisfaction. He 
was always happy, when, with four or five 
of his musical friends about him, he would 



©■ 



* 



* 



* 



AT HOME. 



135 



lead them on the piano in rendering some 
favorite glee, anthem, or song. 

On June, 13, 1877, he was graduated with 
his class from the Law- school, and received 
his degree of Bachelor of Laws. 

He immediately joined with others in 
forming a post-graduate class, for one year 
more of advanced study, and would have 
been graduated with his class, receiving a 
degree of Master of Laws, but for his ab- 
sence in the west. He was admitted to prac- 
tice at the bar of the District of Columbia 
July 2, 1877. 

Saratoga Springs, K Y., Aug. 1, 1877. 
My dear Mother — 

I will answer yours of the 25th, and 
father's of the 30th, together. 

The indefiniteness of your plans is re- 
freshing. You know, here, it is. get up in 
the morning, drink spring -water, eat break- 
fast, read awhile, spring -water, eat, more 
reading, spring - water, eat, spring - water, 
and to bed — so, to have to do with some- 
thing not fixed by any rule, is very re- 
freshing. 

Mrs. H. has just asked, "When do you 



>fr 



Graduates 

from Law 

School. 



Further 
studies. 



* 



* 



* 



136 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Visits in- 
sane asy- 
lum at 
Ovid, N. Y. 



©" 



expect your father and mother?" Mrs. B. 
asked the same question. Mr. and Mrs. H. 
repeated the same interrogatory. The last 
time I saw Mr. and Mrs. R. I enlightened 
their minds on the subject. Dr. A. and Dr. 
K., from Rochester, Dr. and Mrs. F., from 
Bangor, and numerous other friends, are in 
pursuit of similar information. 

I have busied myself in investigating 
causes of pauperism and modes of relief. 

Sunday I met Drs. Anderson and Ken- 
drick at church. Dr. A. is on his way to 
Ovid, N. Y., to examine an insane asylum; 
so I accompanied him, with three other 
members of the State Board of Charities. 

At Geneva we took a boat and went 
down Seneca Lake twenty miles to the asy- 
lum. It is beautifully located on a large 
farm on the shore of the lake — high ground, 
which commands a fine view of the lake and 
surrounding country. 

I wish you would come here, that way, 
via Bait, and Harrisburg to Watkins, thence 
by boat, forty miles, to Geneva; from there 
by rail to Schenectady here. 

We reached the asylum yesterday a. m., 
about 10 : 30. This is a receptacle for the 



* 



t& 



* 



AT HOME. 



137 



worst forms of disease in all the county hos- 
pitals. 1,250 inmates. 

The buildings are in groups of about five 
two - story brick wards. An eighth of a mile 
separates the two sexes. It seemed almost 
too bad to put nature's deformities where her 
beauties were so striking; but it is right they 
should be made as happy as possible. I 
don't think I should make a good Insane 
Hosp. Supt. 

Dr. Anderson has returned to Rochester; 
left regards, for you and father. 

Please send some more religious papers. 
Love to father. - 

Affectionately, your son 

Will S. Stickney. 

In October, 1875, he was elected Presi- 
dent of the Calvary Christian League, an 
organization composed principally of the 
young people of the church and Sunday 
School, for mutual improvement and social 
intercourse. 

At the expiration of the first year, he 
was reelected for another term. In accept- 
ing the position, he delivered a brief address, 
defining the object of the organization. 

17 



President 

of Calvary 

Christian 

League. 



Reelected. 



* 



* 



* 



138 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■© 



Address to 
League. 



* 



Among his papers was found the follow- 
ing "points" of his speech: 

"Analyze the name — Calvary Christian 
League. Name is the body, the idea is the 
soul. The body demands respect as it furn- 
ishes a habitation for the soul. Give brief 
sketch of the life of Christ, whose birth was 
heralded by notes of joy, chanted by angelic 
choirs, ravishing the ears of the wondering 
shepherds on Bethlehem's plain. Christ a 
paragon of excellence, the personification of 
Truth and Virtue. We are His representa- 
tives, and if true disciples, must illustrate 
His life in our lives. The League was not 
formed for pleasure merely; to tie it to such 
limits, would make it unworthy the name." 

On retiring from office, at the expira- 
tion of his second term, 1877, he expressed 
a strong desire for the future prosperity and 
usefulness of the League. He called partic- 
ular attention to the name of the organiza- 
tion, denning the word " Christian " as em- 
bracing all the intellectual, social, and moral 
qualities of man's nature. He considered 
growth, a principle of the christian life — 
when development ceases, decay begins; this 



*■ 



AT HOME. 



* 



139 



is as true of an organisation like this as of 
an individual. 

During the last year of his administra- 
tion, thirty- five new members were added, 
and $ 227. 76 was received. This money was 
appropriated for the benefit of the poor in 
the S. S., for foreign missions, sewing - circle, 
repairing church furniture, &c. 

In the early part of 1877, the President 
approved a bill appropriating $20,000 for the 
relief of the destitute poor of the city of 
Washington. A commission was appointed 
to carry it into effect. During the following 
months of the winter and spring, Will gave 
the whole of his time to aid the commission, 
of which his father had been made President. 
As indicative not only of his zeal in every 
good work, but also of his administrative 
ability, a portion of the report he made to 
the board is here given. 

Extract from Report of W. S. Stickney 
to the Relief Commission. 
•'Since our city is the seat of Govern- 
ment, it presents the singular appearance of 



Results. 



Relief 
Commis- 
sion. 



Report to 
the Com- 
mission. 



* 



* 



140 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY 



* 



Popula- 
tion of the 
Capital. 



Calls for 
relief. 



* 



a metropolis without manufacturing or com- 
mercial interests. It has little or no interest, 
outside of the local trades and government 
patronage, that are essential to comfortable 
living. Its population comprises many non- 
residents, allured from comfortable homes 
by the ignis fatuus of a government office. 
Discharged from the departments, their 
means of subsistence are cut off, and large 
numbers are thus thrown upon the tender 
mercies of the charitable for relief. 

"Besides these, there is another large 
class, too ignorant and lazy to make them- 
selves useful to themselves or any one else, 
who stand at our doors appealing for assist- 
ance. This class, so erroneously and unfor- 
tunately called the 'nation's wards,' compris- 
es nearly one -third of our population, and 
received over eighty per cent, of the help 
given by the Relief Commission during the 
past year. 

"Since the late war of the rebellion our 
city has been the head - quarters for these 
people, and, since in prosperous seasons they 
can with difficulty take care of themselves, 
in these 'hard times' the relief office is be- 
sieged for bread and clothing for men, wo- 



* 



*■ 



AT HOME. 



* 



141 



men. and children in every grade of want 
and destitution. 

" These are the principal classes that 
demanded our attention and assistance dur- 
ing the past year. 

****** 

"On the 5th of Feb y. 1877, the President 
of the U. S. approved a bill appropriating 
twenty thousand dollars for the 'destitute 
poor of this city/ to be disbursed by the 
Relief Commission. 

"Such a large sum of money doubtless 
attracted some who had previously managed 
to do without aid. But the absence of any 
law of settlement, or authority to send immi- 
grant paupers home, made it difficult to dis- 
criminate between those who had moved 
into the city to avail themselves of this aid. 
and our own needy citizens. 

"The commission endeavored to prevent 
this immigration by adopting a rule, which 
the visitors were instructed to see enforced, 
that no application should be received from 
any who had not resided at least a month in 
the city. 

"The number of those who received aid 
from the twenty thousand dollars appropria- 



* 



Appropri 

at ion for 

tlie poor 



* 



* 



142 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Aid given. 



Proper 

mode of 
giving aid. 



Principal 
cause of 
poverty. 



ted by Congress, was 14,358. 
families helped, 8,191. 



Number of 



*■ 



"The primary object of all charitable 
organizations, should be to relieve distress, 
and, at the same time, to administer relief in 
such a way as to diminish pauperism. 

' ' There is nothing incompatible with this 
idea in the granting of out -door relief, if it 
is bestowed judiciously and systematically. 
But it should be so given, that the applicants 
will be compelled to resort to other means of 
obtaining a living than the monthly rations 
provided by the city. 

"The principal cause of pauperism in 
our city, directly or indirectly, is intemper- 
ance, greatly aggravated by the want of em- 
ployment. 

"It would be more economical to support 
the paupers in the work -house, and provide 
for the children industrial schools and homes, 
thus relieving the pauper class of those who 
would otherwise follow the example of their 
parents in idleness and vice, and thus train- 
ing them to habits of industry and useful- 
ness. 

"We do not endorse the opinion lately 



*£ 



*■ 



* 



AT HOME. 



143 



adopted by many social economists, that 
pauperism is hereditary. Men and women 
are not constitutionally paupers, but become 
such from their surroundings or environ- 
ment. Improve these, and the evil is greatly 
diminished, if not effectually cured. 

''Most of the families applying for aid 
have in them able-bodied men, who either 
cannot find employment, or are determined 
not to work. 

"We would not recommend, as a meas- 
ure of charity, the employment by the gov- 
ernment of those temporarily without work, 
at their full value. The disastrous opera- 
tions of such a system have been too fully 
demonstrated in France, during the last hun- 
dred years, to call for adoption here. 

"The evil of the Ateliers nationaux 
was, that they attracted laborers, by paying 
the full value of their service; so that what 
was intended as a charity, many came to 
demand as a right. 

"If fifty cents a day were given to such 
employees, the objection to the French sys- 
tem would be obviated. For, while this 
would be sufficient to supply a family with 
bread and fuel, it would not be enough to 



*■ 



Pauper- 
ism not in- 
herited. 



A French 
mistake. 



* 



* 



* 



144 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Premium 

on idle- 
ness. 



Misdirect- 
ed charity. 



* 



tempt laborers from other work, or to hold 
them, if any other employment could be ob- 
tained. 

"When the applicant is assisted by pub- 
lic charity, he is regarded, and regards him- 
self, as a public dependent. His shiftlessness 
is encouraged, and his children taught the 
lesson — once learned, never forgotten — that 
the government virtually pays a premium 
for idleness. 

"It has been hinted, that some families 
move into the city to avail themselves of the 
aid given to the poor. This immigration 
should be discouraged, and to accomplish 
this, the city government should have au- 
thority to send these people back to their 
homes. This plan works well in other pla- 
ces, and deserves a trial here. 

"During the past year it came to our 
knowledge that several families were actu- 
ally relieved from work by the aid given by 
the various relief societies. They were sup- 
ported by charity. Such a system is worse 
than none, as it conceals the imposter and 
encourages the lazy. 

"To prevent such frauds, all societies 
granting out - door relief, should send to 



* 



tf 



* 



AT HOME. 



145 



* 



some central office, daily, the names and 
residences of those assisted the day before. 

"Whatever is done for the poor, should 
be of a permanent character. Owing to the 
want of powers of the Commission, many 
last year were helped only to be helped 
again. If they are confirmed paupers, not 
able to take care of themselves, they should 
be put by themselves. The welfare of soci- 
ety demands it. If they are only tempo- 
rarily distressed, it is the interest of society 
to help them on their feet again, without 
pauperizing them. 

"Oftentimes the visitors find applicants 
too old and infirm to work. It would seem 
to be the dictates of true charity and human- 
ity, that these poor, old and disabled people 
should be sent to the poor-house, where they 
may have more of the comforts of life. 

"Children are sometimes found, who, 
with no friends to care for them, depend 
entirely upon begging for their daily subsist- 
ence. They are waifs, exposed to every 
form of vice and crime, and will eventually 
be found in our gaols and penitentiaries. 

"In conclusion, allow me to recapitulate 

18 



Sugges 
tion. 



Children. 



# 



3+ 



140 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Recom- 
menda- 
tions. 



the recommendations presented in the fore- 
going: 

"1. The District Government should es- 
tablish a ' Labor Bureau ' for the employment 
of men whose families apply for aid — the 
wages being considerably below the usual 
rate, but sufficient for maintaining subsist- 
ence. 

"2. That orders be given, that any ap- 
plicant for aid, having a legal settlement 
elsewhere, be sent to his home. 

"3. That all societies granting out -door 
relief, be requested to send to the central 
office, daily, a list of the names and residen- 
ces of those assisted the previous day. 

"4. For every five hundred dollars ap- 
propriated by Congress to benevolent institu- 
tions in this District, the Relief Commission 
be entitled to send one inmate for one year. 

"5. That the Relief Commission be con- 
stituted a visiting board, to visit all the char- 
itable institutions in the District, at least 
once a year, to examine the condition and 
management of such institutions, and report 
the same to the city government. This sys- 
tem is found to work well in the State of 
New York. 



* 



*■ 



* 



AT HOME. 



147 



"In these suggestions no extra expense 
would be involved, except, perhaps, in the 
labor bureau, and, in that case, the benefit 
would more than compensate for the outlay. 

"Respectfully submitted. 

"W. S. Sticknev." 



Feasibili- 
ty of these 
sugges- 
tions. 



* 



■£< 



* : * 



CHAPTEK IV. 



FIRST UTE COMMISSION. 



"Not the place honors the man, but the man the place." 

The day is short, and the work is great. It is not incumbent upon 
thee to complete the work ; but thou must not, therefore, cease from 
it. If thou hast worked much, great shall be thy reward ; for the 
Master who employed thee is faithful in his payments. But know that 
the true reward is not of this world. — Talmud. 



qi )% 



* 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



151 



CONGRESS passed. a law, approved May 
3, 1878, for the appointment of a Special 
Commission to negotiate with the Ute In- 
dians in Colorado, for the consolidation of 
all the bands into one agency, and for the 
extinguishment of their right to the southern 
portion of their reservation. Gen. Edward 
Hatch, of the army, N. C. McFarland, of 
Kansas, and Wm. Stickney, of Washington, 
constituted the commission. W. S. Stickney 
was appointed Secretary and Disbursing Of- 
ficer. 

The Commission met and organized at 
Manitou, near Pike's Peak, Colorado, July 
30, 1878. 

The unusual altitude or peculiar climatic 
conditions of this region so affected me, that, 
fearing I should be an obstruction to the 
work of the Commission, and meeting ex- 
Governor Morrill, of Maine, at Manitou, 
with his consent, I telegraphed the Presi- 
dent, suggesting that he be appointed in 
my place, at the same time announcing my 
resignation on account of ill health. This 
change was immediately effected. 

Gen. Clinton B. Fisk was present, repre- 
senting the Board of Indian Commissioners. 



Ute Com- 
mission. 



Appoint- 
ment. 



Change. 



St 



+£ 



* 



152 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■S 



Eclipse of 
the sun. 



Journey- 
ing. 



Glimpses 

ofglorious 

things. 



V 



After remaining several days at Manitou, 
where we had the intense satisfaction of 
witnessing the total eclipse of the sun on the 
30th of July, the Commission, accompanied 
by Gen. Fisk and myself, proceeded to Ala- 
mosa, the terminus of the Denver and Rio 
Grande R. R., crossing, en route, the cele- 
brated Veta Pass. 

We remained at Alamosa a day or two, 
waiting for the military escort which was to 
accompany the Commission to Los Pinos and 
other points in southern Colorado. 

The Commission started on their long 
journey over mountains, plains, and valleys, 
while Gen. Fisk and I returned east, stop- 
ping to visit the Indian Territory on our way. 

The following extracts from a letter of 
my son, gives interesting incidents and im- 
pressions by the way: 

"Since my last letter, which was from 
Manitou, our camp has moved all through 
the famous San Juan mining country. I can 
give you but glimpses of the glorious things 
we saw in that almost unknown land. The 
ride to Alamosa, over the narrow- guage 
(gouge it should be called, for charging ten 



I* 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



153 



cents a mile), was rather devoid of interest, 
excepting the Veta Pass. This R. R. feat 
our Colorado friends seem never to tire talk- 
ing about. Not having money enough to 
tunnel the mountain, the railroad company 
went over it. The summit is 9,339 feet above 
the sea, and the average grade for 21i miles 
is 211 feet to the mile. One sharp curve of 
30 degrees, with a radius of 193 feet, called 
the 'mule shoe,' is one of the sights. As a 
piece of engineering, this is no great wonder, 
as the road sticks close to the mountain side, 
and the certainty of reaching the top only 
depends on the strength of the locomotive. 
But the view down the valley is very fine — 
the Spanish peaks looming up on the foot- 
hills five or six thousand feet and overlook- 
ing the prairie plains that extend as far as 
the eye can reach. The ride down the 
mountain was on the double-quick, but a 
heavy shower and thick, black clouds pre- 
vented our seeing any thing of the country. 

•'Alamosa, the present terminus of the 
road, affords two hotels. We stopped at the 
Perry House. The proprietor, Joe Perry, as 
he is familiarly called, came originally from 
Chester, K Y. The chief end of his life 



View 

clown the 

valley. 



Rapid 

transit. 



* 



* 



* 



154 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Prairie 
schooners 



* 



appears to be to 'keep a first-class hotel 
on the frontier.' He has already built six- 
teen hotels, following the western terminus 
of the Kansas Pacific, Atchison, Topeka and 
Santa Fe, and now of the Denver and Rio 
Grande Railroad. On the 23d of last June 
his guests took breakfast in his hotel at Gar- 
land City, and tea in the same house at 
Alamosa, 30 miles beyond. After breakfast 
the house was taken apart in sections, loaded 
on fifteen cars, transferred to the new town, 
and reerected. 

"We reached Alamosa the 7th of Au- 
gust. The town was then two months old, 
with a population of six or eight hundred. 
The town was in process of construction. 
Houses almost finished, half built, some with 
only the foundations laid, could be seen all 
around. Prairie schooners brought families 
from Del Norte, thirty miles beyond, to 
locate in the new town; and a few came 
directly from the east. Freight trains load- 
ed with houses, the owners sitting on top, 
steamed in from Garland. All about the 
town were tents and covered wagons, serv- 
ing as houses till more substantial ones could 
be roofed in. 



* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



155 



"The town is located in the middle of 
the Rio Grande valley, about a mile west 
of the river. The valley is sixty miles wide, 
and four hundred long; is skirted by high 
mountains, and is covered with a luxuriant 
growth of sage brush, grease wood, and 
cactus. It is said, that, with 'irrigation/ 
this valley may be made to blossom as the 
rose. A friend — a Colorado enthusiast — 
would picture us picking bananas, oranges, 
and other tropical fruits from the groves of 
San Luis Park — Nous verrons. The dust 
is an inch or two deep, and so filled with 
alkali that it is especially disagreeable to 
the eyes. Its presence in such quantities is 
accounted for on the theory that the rocks 
on the mountains have become disintegrated 
and blown into the valley. No gardens have 
been started yet; hence living is expensive. 
Most of the vegetables come by rail from 
Kansas, thirty- six hours distant, and are re- 
shipped at Pueblo. The Texas herds furnish 
most of the meat. We observed several Chi- 
nese, in their national costume and the inev- 
itable pig -tail, who seemed to be doing a 
good business. 

"'There we bade farewell to what civili- 



Rio 
Grande 
valley. 



Dust. 



* 



* 



156 



■^ 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Farewell 
to civili- 
zation. 

The Gen- 
eral. 



The Judge 



The Gov 
erncr. 



The Doc 
tor. 



The Cap- 
tain. 



The Colo 
nel. 



* 



zation there was, and started for the mount- 
ains. Before beginning the trip, you must 
know something of the party. 

"First, came the 'General,' [Hatch] full 
of war stories; always ready for a hunt or a 
fish; generally good-natured, but a thorough 
military man. Then there was the 'Judge,' 
[McFarland] tall and slim, about six feet 
two, unused to rough roads and 'irregular 
meals;' but, with the aid of his quinine pills 
and the ambulance cushions, he managed to 
survive his 'new sensations.' The 'Govern- 
or,' [Morrill] started in well, but the roads 
were too much for him, and we had to send 
him back. We were all sorry to lose his 
genial face and pleasant company; but camp 
is a poor place for being sick. The 'Doctor,* 
[Park] went along for his health. It would 
certainly have improved fifty per cent, more 
if his wife and babies had been with him. 
His correspondence alone discounted all the 
rest put together. The ' Captain ' did not go 
far; Uncle Sam wanted him in New York, 
and that settled it. The ' Colonel ' turned the 
scale at 200, was always in a hurry, good 
company, and an acquisition to the party. 
The 'Lieutenant,' commander of the escort. 



* 



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UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



157 



is a Pennsylvania boy, sent here to die; but 
mountain air wouldn't let him. He does 
little of every thing; collects flowers; bottles 
spring -water; keeps an accurate register of 
the thermometer and barometer (when he 
thinks of it); measures the marches with an 
adometer; and then tells us about them all. 
and lots of other things. Then the 'Secre- 
tary/ [W. S. S.] who needs no description, 
an escort of ten men, and Col. Pfeiffer, the 
interpreter, a veteran Indian fighter. For 
many years he was the warrior - chief of the 
Utes, and even now it is sometimes difficult 
to tell which he likes best, the Indians or the 
whites. 

"The business of these gentlemen was to 
visit the Ute Indians in south -western Colo- 
rado, and purchase, if possible, a part of 
their territory. At the lower end of the 
Reservation is a strip of land about 200 miles 
long by 15 wide, on which the whites are all 
the time encroaching, and it was feared the 
Indians would resist these encroachments, 
and so cause trouble. 

"To carry the outfit, required ten cov- 
ered ambulances, a buckboard, and four 
wagons, with thirty mules to draw them. 



* 



The Lieu- 
tenant. 



The Secre- 
tary. 



The Inter- 
preter. 



Object. 



Outfit. 



m 



* 



158 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



First day. 



Mexican 

town. 



''The Commission had four wall tents, 
which were generally arranged in the form 
of a hollow square, and over the centre a 
large awning, under which was the dinner 
table. The escort and interpreter had their 
tents on one side, making altogether quite a 
camp. 

"It would be too great an undertaking 
to describe in detail each day's journeying, 
so we will only notice the principal points 
passed on the trip to the Southern Ute agen- 
cy, and the general pow-wow held there with 
Ignacio and his warriors. 

"The beginning of the first day's ride 
was, the first part, over an exceedingly 
dusty road, but toward the last we came 
to the 'bad land,' where it looks as if a great 
stream of lava and scoria had poured down 
over the valley. The first camp was on the 
Conejos river, near a town of the same 
name. 

"The second day we passed through 
Conejos; and as it is a thoroughly Mexican 
town, I will tell you something of it. It is 
built in the shape of a square, with a church 
and monastery on one side, and adobe houses 
on the other three. There is really but one 



* 



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UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



151) 



house to a side of this, public square, though 
that is divided into many apartments, which 
are used for various public and private pur- 
poses. The whole is so constructed as to 
have a square court in the centre. It is a 
square bounded with squares — one of the 
few things the Mexicans do on the square! 
These courts have their only entrance from 
the great public square. In them are the 
stables and store -houses. They are the 
back yards of a Mexican town. 

"Leaving Conejos, our road was along 
a very pretty valley under some cultivation, 
dotted with Mexican houses. One house 
was being repaired by a couple of women, 
who were on the roof plastering up the holes, 
while the pater familias was on the ground 
bossing the job and stirring up the mud 
mortar. Close by each house is the bake- 
oven, a conical - shaped mound of earth about 
three feet high. All our surroundings were 
so un -American, it seemed as if we must be 
traveling in the Orient." 

Notwithstanding the discomforts to which 
they were exposed, their destination was 
finally reached in safety. 



*■ 



Woman":- 
wrongs. 



* 



* 



160 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



+£ 



Rain. 



Saturday, August 10, 1878. 

In Camp on Los Pinos Creek. 
My dear Father — 

Rain, rain, rain. I 'm so glad, on your 
account, that you are not along. We re- 
main here till it stops raining. 

Yesterday the Governor complained of 
not feeling well. I did the best I could for 
him, and this a. m. he feels a little easier, 
but is afraid to go on. McCauley takes him 
back to Fort Garland, and the rest of us 
will keep on. The Judge says, though the 
weakest man of the party, he has already 
beaten two men. 

Rubber coat and shoes come in first rate. 
We live very comfortably. Dr. and I tent 
together. He appears happy, and improving 
in health. I am very well this a. m., though 
yesterday my head had a very decided in- 
clination to go where my heels are. 

Love to mother. 

Affectionately, Will. 



>±<" 



Los Pinos Agency, 

Thursday, Aug. 29, 1878. 
My dear Father — 

I feel almost like complaining a little. 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



161 



that I have not received any letter from you 
or mother. Not a word have I heard since 
we parted at Alamosa. The rest have all 
had mail, but nothing for me. 

The Commission toil on. The Council 
at the Southern Ute agency, so far, has been 
of no avail. The Indians refused to come 
here, and declined to go to White River. 

We used one of the letters to agent 
Weaver, granting permission to spend $1,000, 
and bought calicoes, knives, caps, handker- 
chiefs, scarfs, &c, and gave them to the 
Indians. Four hundred and ninety- six men, 
women, and children squatted on the ground 
together, and received their portions of the 
spoils. It did n't take very well, for the In- 
dians stubbornly refused the next day to do 
any thing the Commission asked. We left 
the interpreter there, and he may succeed in 
doing something. 

The road up here we found very rough. 
From Animas to Silverton the road was so 
narrow, in places, that the river had but 
three or four inches to spare. We deserted 
the wagons, preferring to walk most of the 
way alongside of Cascade Creek. The sce- 
nery is very fine. The valley is about a mile 

20 



Distribu- 
tion of 
gifts to 
Indians. 



Rough 
roads. 



* 



* 



162 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Mires. 



Ouray. 



* 



wide, and at each end a sentinel mountain, 
the walls from one to three thousand feet 
high, forming a suitable frame for the pic- 
ture. 

At Silverton we left the wagons, and 
took horses to cross the Red Mountain trail 
to Ouray. The wagons go round by Lake 
City; our baggage was mounted on donkeys, 
and came with us. 

On our way we passed several mining 
works. The road was steep in some places, 
but not dangerous. From the summit the 
view was magnificent. Coming down, the 
way was in some places very steep and dan- 
gerous. We frequently dismounted and took 
it on foot. We were all glad to reach Ouray. 
Just before arriving there, we crossed a reg- 
ular mauvais pas — none of us had the cour- 
age to ride across. 

Ouray is beautifully located at the head 
of a valley, high mountains on three sides, 
the fourth opening north toward the agency. 
From our hotel, the Dixon House, we could 
see a waterfall, reminding me of Staubach, 
though not so beautiful. 

Yesterday we took a wagon and came 
here. The Indians have been sent for, and 



* 



^ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



163 



we hope to get away to -.morrow or next day, 
and then push on to Alamosa. We will all 
be glad to get out of this country. It 's 
rough, and there is no pleasure in being 
surrounded by miners and Indians. 

Love to mother and yourself, and do n't 
forget to write soon. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 

Los Pinos Agency, 

Saturday, Aug. 31, 1878. 
My dear Father — 

Yours of the 22d inst. just received. I 
don't understand why the $25,000 "could 
not be done." It 's strange we can't have an 
honest policy towards the Indians. 

We met the Indians in council yester- 
day. The Commission offered $10,000 in 
cash for the four mile square. They de- 
clined at first, but afterwards adjourned till 
to - day, to consider it. 

With few exceptions, the Indians do not 
work, but spend their time in loafing and 
hunting. The northern bands are superior 
to the southern. 

Just outside of my window, in full sight, 
are about a dozen Indians, all well armed 



*■ 



Honest 
policy. 



* 



*■ 



164 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Indians. 



Issue of 
beef. 



Vitality of 
Commis- 
sion low. 



*■ 



with revolvers, one or two with rifles, and 
one old fellow is playing with his tomahawk. 
One chief refused to shake hands with Col. 
Watkins — demanding his credentials! 

I went to see the issue of beef this p. m. 
The steers were put in the corral, and the 
Indians sat on the fence and fired away at 
them. Sometimes they killed at the first 
shot, but frequently three or four bullets 
would be put into the poor animals before 
they fell. Just as soon as the last one fell, 
women, boys, and men all rushed to the 
dead cattle, and commenced cutting them 
up. The Judge and I voted it a great and 
unnecessary cruelty. 

We start to-morrow for Lake City, 
thence to Del Norte, Alamosa, and Garland 
to White River. 

Affectionately, with love to mother, 

Your son Will. 

Denver, Col., Sept. 1, 1878. 
My dear Father— 

The Commission still lives, though vital- 
ity seems low. Gov. Morrill has gone to 
Washington, to see if Prest. Hayes and Sec- 
retary Schurz approve of putting the Indians 



* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



1(35 



on the head waters of the San Juan, Navajo, 
Blanca, and Piedra. 

Judge McFarland is going home. Gen. 
Hatch is off in a few days to Santa Fe, to 
look after "border troubles," "approve con- 
tracts/' &c; and McCauley and I are to go 
to White River, to inspect the country, con- 
sult the Indians, and report. I suppose (one 
never knows on this Commission) we will 
leave to-morrow; will postal card you from 
Fort Steele or Rawlins. About the 30th we 
expect to have our final council. 

By the way, I want you and mother to 
decide what you wish in regard to my set- 
tling in Des Moines. Whatever I do, I want 
to feel that you and mother are perfectly 
satisfied. If you think you will need me at 
home, say so, and that will settle the ques- 
tion, I will disregard entirely my own pref- 
erences, and do gladly just what you and 
mother say. So I expect you to have it all 
decided by the time I reach home. 

I have been so busy running around over 
the country, that I may appear to have neg- 
lected writing my friends. Remember me to 
all. Love to mother. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 



*■ 



What to 
do in the 
future. 



* 



St 



166 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Ute-tah. 



Break- 
down. 



*■ 



Salt Lake City, Sept. 30, 1878. 
My dear Mother — 

How I should like to see your face when 
you read this letter heading. You didn't 
know the Utes were in this part of the 
country, did you? Where should we find 
them, but at Ute-tah? The Uintah Indians 
are all Utes, and are part owners of the land 
we want to purchase, and I am here to 
obtain their consent. 

We arrived here last Wednesday, and 
started Friday for the agency, 225 miles off, 
with a good team, and what seemed to be 
a strong wagon, expecting to reach it in four 
days. After making twenty- five miles, the 
right hind wheel became disgruntled, the 
spokes had a falling out, and brought us 
to a halt. We repaired damages as well as 
we could, and under difficulties continued 
our journey to Park City, ten miles beyond. 
I, to lighten the wagon, took passage with 
a Mormon, who happened along just in time. 
He was a skillful driver, found every stone 
in the road, which gave me a good bouncing. 
We had not gone far before we met Col. 
Watkins, who said the road beyond was im- 
passable; that no wagon could ever reach 



* 



* 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



167 



the agency. He said he had mentioned to 
the Indians the object of my visit, and it 
would only be necessary to write a letter, 
and send it by a courier. I immediately 
decided what to do. We went on to Park 
City, hired a horse, and dispatched our dri- 
ver as courier. 

This driver is quite a character — Smith, 
by name — and a Mormon. He said his fa- 
ther had two wives. I asked him if he 
called the one who was not his mother, 
mother No. 2? He said he called one moth- 
er, and the other "aunt Mary"; that aunt 
Mary, had always lived with them, and his 
father thought he might as well marry her. 
He says the Mormons believe baptism is a 
saving ordinance — that it is efficacious for 
the dead. 

We stayed over night at a Mr. Kimball's. 
Mr. K. has 104 brothers and sisters, and, I 
was about to say, thirteen mothers. I won- 
der if the father gives all the children Christ- 
mas presents! 

Saturday we returned to this place. Yes- 
terday morning McCauley and I started for 
church, but found there would be no Gentile 
service till twelve o'clock. We went to the 



*■ 



A charac- 
ter. 



A nume- 
rous fam- 
ily- 



* 



o 



168 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Temper- 
ance. 



Mormon 
meeting. 



*■ 



Methodist church. Met a Mr. Kaighn (pro- 
nounced Cain), who remembered seeing you 
in '76. The pastor introduced "Bro. Allen," 
a temperance reformer — a kind of Gough 
No. 2 — lately from San Francisco. I could 
not see much of his face, for the hair and 
whiskers. He was fifty- five minutes going 
through his violent gymnastics. 

At two o'clock we attended the Taber- 
nacle. You remember what a queer, turtle- 
shaped building it is. We were three min- 
utes early, and there were about five thou- 
sand present. The organ is large and very 
harsh. On dit — it requires four men to 
blow it. The singing was poor, and the 
preaching intolerable. The service opened 
with communioD, and was so devoid of so- 
lemnity, that it seemed more like a free 
lunch. While the bread was being passed, 
a Bro. Hart spoke in defence of Latter -day - 
Saintism. He said he had been an Episco- 
palian, but that did not satisfy him. He 
then joined the Baptists, and was ready to 
cry "Eureka," but found that was not what 
he needed; at last he became a Latter-day- 
Saint, and was happy. The house of the 
Lord was to be built in the last days on 



* 



If 



UTE COMMISSION. 



+& 



169 



the tops of the mountains. This was that 
church. The little stone that was cut out 
of the mountain was the church of the L.-cL- 
Saints. When the water was passed to him, 
he stopped preaching, and took a good drink. 
He seemed to be very thirsty; at any rate, 
his preaching was dry enough. He was 
followed by several other speakers; the last 
of whom compared Christ with Joseph Smith, 
making the latter equal in sinlessness, in- 
spiration, and righteousness to the blessed 
Savior. The people seemed- to be the scum 
of the earth, who had floated to Salt Lake 
City. I did not go out at night. 

The Wasatch Mountains, their peaks all 
covered with snow, and the bright sun shin- 
ing on them, look beautiful from my window. 
I expect to await the return of my courier, 
which will probably be by the last of the 
week. 

Called on Gov. and Mrs. Emery Satur- 
day night. They remembered you, and 
wished to be remembered when I wrote. 

Love to father and all inquiring friends. 
If I can be spared for a few days, intend to 
take a look at San Francisco. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 

21 



* 



Waiting 
for the 
courier. 



* 



■fit 



170 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



California. 



Ocean of 
Peace. 



* 



Fort Fred Steele, Wy. Ter'y, 
Oct. 15, 1878. 
My dear Father — 

The courier despatched to the Uintahs 
returned, and reported that the Indians were 
all off hunting, and would not return before 
1st prox. Agent Critchlow, a good and re- 
liable man, has offered to see them for me. 

Having received permission to visit San 
Francisco, I lost no time in starting. Thurs- 
day we rode to the Cliff. I had not expected 
to see the "Ocean of Peace" so soon. The 
fact that I was on its banks interested me 
much more than the seals and Cliff House. 
The Golden Gate could hardly have looked 
better. The sky was blue, and the sun was 
bright. Returning to the city, we were re- 
ceived very cordially by Mr. Harmon, who 
invited us to dine the day following. 

In the evening, with a Mr. Barstow, 
Capt. Stone, chief of the detective force, 
Danezin, Chinese agent of Wells, Fargo & 
Co., and Mr. Jennings, patrolman of Chinese 
quarters, McCauley, Woog, and Major Lock- 
wood, of the Interior Dep., and two other 
gentlemen, we set out on a visit to China- 
town. First came the restaurant, where we 



* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



171 



drank some very good- Oolong tea, and at- 
tempted the chop sticks; then visited a mer- 
chant, and were interested by the rapidity 
with which he counted on the abacus. Next, 
was a "respectable" opium den, comfortably 
fitted up with an easy divan for two smokers. 
We then proceeded to a "low" opium den, 
and though it was dirty, and, in its ap- 
proaches, filthy, I could not but feel that 
the quiet, deceptive slumber of the poppy 
was preferable to the senseless laugh, or 
bestial stupor of the whiskey drinker. It 
may be possible for a man to smoke opium 
and be respectable, but there is nothing re- 
spectable in being a whiskey drinker. The 
joss house was dark and dingy; the idols 
shapeless and without expression. We saw 
the gods of Wealth and Protection, and the 
god of Women. A small lamp was hung 
before each idol, kept constantly burning. 

We then visited the theatre. House full; 
about 1,200 present. Of all the jargon I ever 
heard, this was the worst. I could see no 
sense in the play, though the costumes, em- 
broidered in silk, were rich. After the first 
act, there were tumbling and fencing; the 
latter deftly done. After taking a look at a 



China 
town. 



Opium. 



*■ 



* 



* 



172 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Music. 



Eastward. 



* 



fourteen thousand dollar orchestrion, and 
hearing a few selections from "Lucia," we 
returned to the hotel. 

Friday, in company with Etta and her 
father, I rode about the town, and we dined 
together. Saturday we started eastward, 
stopping here for things left behind. 

Next Saturday we take a wagon and 
start for the southern country again for 
another council. 

Please have a chair for me at the 
Thanksgiving dinner. It is snowing hard. 

Love to you and mother. 
Affectionately, Will. 

Cheyenne, Wy., Oct. 18, 1878. 
My dear Mother — 

You see I 'm inclining toward home. 
McCauley and I left Fort Steele yesterday 
a. m., intending to take the Denver Pacific 
R, R. here for Denver, but the train had 
gone, and we now expect to leave at 3:15 
for D. 

I had a delightful visit at Fort Steele. 
It almost seemed like home. We were the 
guests of Mrs. Major Thornburg. The Major 
is now after the Cheyennes. Mrs. T. spared 



t& 



* 



* 



UTE COMMISSION. 



no pains to make our stay as pleasant as 
possible. I was about used up from my trips 
about the country — tired and nervous — so I 
stopped over one day, and our hostess could 
scarcely have treated us with more kindly 
attention if we had been her own brothers. 

This p. m. I hope to be at Denver; to- 
morrow night, if all is well, in Alamosa, 
ready to start Monday for the south again. 

I have been kept pretty busy; part of the 
time having to carry considerable money, but 
no harm has yet reached me. I trust it will 
not overtake us. 

Love to father and yourself. 
Affectionately, your son Will. 

Lake City, Oct. 26, 1878. 
My dear Father — 

Just arrived from Alamosa. Left there 
last night, with two thousand dollars in spe- 
cie, and the same amount in checks, to be 
given Ouray's Indians in pursuance of in- 
structions from the Int. Dept. As the stage 
company declined to take any responsibility 
for the safety of the treasure, I did n't sleep 
a wink, expecting a call from some of the 
Mexican population; but I was ready for 



Resti 



>fr 



I 



* 



174 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Birthday. 



them with an " eight - shooter Colt." But 
had no trouble, and to-night the cash is 
safely lodged in the express office. 

Celebrated my birthday by riding on a 
stage, then a wagon, and lastly, a buck- 
board. My health is good, except a little 
cold. I weigh 150!! 

I am very tired, so will not write more. 
Love to mother and yourself. 

Affectionately, your son Willie. 



Wilder- 
ness. 



* 



Los Pinos, November 1, 1878. 
My dear Father — 

Here I am again at the agency of the 
Wilderness. 

My instructions from the Commission 
direct me to secure the consent of the In- 
dians to the sale of their land south and 
west of the San Juan, and the little four 
mile square of Uncompahgre Park. 

At present most of the Indians are out 
on a hunt; couriers have been sent for them, 
and I expect them in a week or ten days. I 
had a talk with a chief yesterday. He said 
the Indians did not want to sell their land, 
and suggested that a delegation of the prin- 
cipal men be sent to Washington to talk 



* 



* 



UTE COMMISSION. 



■^ 



175 



with the Great Father.. He would not look 
at the money; said he did not want it. 

Yesterday I wrote Gen. Hatch for au- 
thority to take three or four of them on, if 
necessary, as a dernier resort, provided the 
band would authorize the delegation to make 
sale of the land. 

I believe the impression they would re- 
ceive from the extent of our country, and 
its great population, would make them more 
tractable; and I confess I am ready to under- 
take the job. 

To-day the Gen'l and Judge meet the 
Southern Utes at Pagosa Springs, to agree 
on the price to be paid for that lower country. 
As I have secured the consent of all the 
other bands, this is all that is necessary to 
make our summer's work a success. 

If the Indians are to be kept on the 
frontier country, they should be isolated 
from the whites; or, if they must mingle 
with the whites, they should be taken east, 
where the society is not composed of cut- 
throats, respectable (!) defaulters, and men 
who do not dare live any where else. 

My health, as a rule, is very good. Love 
to mother. Affectionately, your son Will. 



3+ 



Dernier 
resort. 



Compan- 
ions of 
Indians. 



*R 



* 



176 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Newspa- 
pers. 



Delega- 
tion to 
Washing- 
ton. 



*■ 



Los Pinos Agency, Colorado, 

Sunday, Nov. 3, 1878. 
Mrs. Wm. Stickney, 

Washington, D. C. 
My dear Mother — 

A postal from Lieut. McCauley informs 
me a letter from home is waiting for me at 
the post office. It will probably arrive in a 
day or two. 

The last few days I have been able to 
keep up with the outside world — Mr. Abbott, 
the agent, having Boston papers sent to him 
daily; the latest is Oct. 22d; but that is bet- 
ter than none., 

I expect to remain here about two weeks 
longer, and then go somewhere else. 

The Indians seem set on going to Wash- 
ington, and if permitted to take charge of 
them, I shall be satisfied. I know them 
pretty well, and think we could get along 
well together. They have been so badly 
deceived, that I do n't blame them for want- 
ing to see and talk with the President. 

How I wish the Gov't would make it an 
object for a real first -rate man to be Indian 
agent; pay him enough to live on, and then 
not require him to ask permission to take an 



■8< 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



+B 



177 



extra breath of fresh air.. Some of the Dept. 
rules sent to this agency, are simply ridicu- 
lous. These people are not understood; they 
are nomadic; as much so, probably, as the 
wildest Indians in the country. To-day 
they are here, to-morrow you can't find 
them. Their religion teaches that work is 
dishonorable and degrading; and about here, 
to accomplish any thing, an intelligent farm- 
er is indispensable. Some of the less difficult 
things they can do. A few will dig potatoes 
or pull corn; but the agency farmer must 
plant, cultivate, and irrigate. 

As to their mental vision, they are child- 
ren; they do not understand what is best for 
them. They command, and it is done; and 
it is difficult for them to see why the Great 
Father, with all his boasted power, can't 
keep his word. They are honest and faithful 
in their pledges. In all this tribe, number- 
ing, may be, three or four thousand, only 
about a dozen thieves are known. 

Chief Sapovoneri is in the room now — 
about 5 ft. 7 in., heavy frame, old, white, 
felt hat, with a small black feather seived in; 
hair to the top of his shirt collar, black vest, 
blue, striped cotton shirt, buckskin leggings 



*■ 



Indian 
farming. 



Sapovo- 
neri. 



■* 



*■ 



178 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Indian 
self-sac- 
rifice. 



High 
altitude. 



* 



and shoes, leather belt about the waist, to 
hold up a red, Indian blanket — a good, relia- 
ble, trustworthy man. 

Though he would like to go to Wash- 
ington, he says it is best he should remain 
here, lest some trouble might arise in his 
absence; an exhibition of self-sacrifice cred- 
itable to Indian or white man. 

It is about 3:30 with you. My S. S. is 
just getting under way; how I wish I could 
be there. Kindest regards to the teachers 
you may meet, and love to father. 
Affectionately, your son 

Will S. Stickney. 

Los Pinos Indian Agency, 

Monday morning, Nov. 2, 1878. 
My dear Father — 

Many thanks for yours of 24th ult. , with 
inclosure. 

Though the country here is considered 
healthy, there are some diseases peculiar to it. 
The Doctor here, told me the majority of 
cases treated, is for giddiness and headache, 
caused by the high altitude. Mr. Abbott, 
the agent, is troubled in the same way. If 
you were in some of these places about here. 



■* 



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UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



179 



I fear you wouldn't have any head left. 
Mine has sometimes spun like a top, but no 
serious inconvenience has resulted from it. 

Nothing new here. Indians not yet in. 
They, to a man, are opposed to transfer. 
They hate the soldiers almost as much as 
they do the white settlers ; but if the transfer 
is not made, a broader, more comprehensive, 
and intelligent policy is necessary. 

Among other improvements, I would 
suggest that the Indians should have a code 
of local laws, and some way of enforcing 
them. At present the Deputy Marshal and 
the U. S. Commissioner have to be called in, 
and from this agency they are twenty- five 
miles distant. At the White River, two 
hundred. Something might be invented to 
apply to these Indians, when they are bad, 
without the use of so much red tape, and 
such long delays. 

Love to mother. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 



Laws for 
Indians. 



•sE* 



* 



*■ 



180 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Italians. 



A Drigand. 



*" 



Los Pinos Indian Agency, Colorado, 
Tuesday, Nov. 5, 1878. 
Mrs. Wm. Stickney, 

Washington City, D. C. 
My dear Mother— 

Since my last, nothing new has occurred, 
save a visit of some of the Navajos to their 
late friends — five men and one woman. 
Their faces resembled the lower class of 
Italians more than I have yet seen among 
any Indians. I wish I had a picture of them 
to send you; but a description will have to 
suffice. The leader was quite tall, with a 
dark - red handkerchief tied about his head, a 
la brigand; his long hair was tied and twisted 
at the back of his head, something after the 
water -fall style; an old shirt, and tight- 
fitting buckskin pants, extending nearly 
down to an antiquated pair of shoes, com- 
pleted the picture — as to the dress. About 
his waist was a warlike looking belt, filled 
with cartridges and a revolver, while over 
his shoulder was slung a rifle of the most 
improved pattern. 

I remarked to Mr. Abbott, that if that 
man should go to Italy, he would be arrested 
for a brigand. 



* 



*- 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



181 



My Indians have- not yet come in; the 
snow clouds are rolling up, though, just the 
same, and I fear, if they are much longer, 
I '11 have a sleigh -ride across the ranges. 

This morning the agent and I are going 
to look after some sheep the Indians have 
lost. I almost wonder some of these mount- 
ains do not pour over and settle both the park 
and the park people. 

Love to father, and regards to friends. 
Affectionately, your son 

Will S. Stickney. 

Los Pinos Indian Agency, Col., 

Thursday, 7th Nov., 1878. 
Mrs. Wm. Stickney, 

Washington City, D. C. 
My dear Mother— 

Just think of it — only three more weeks 
in this month, and then we '11 be in speaking 
distance from Christmas. I suppose father 
is looking up some Christmas music for the 
S. S. I will try and get up some little exer- 
cise for the chapel infant class, and will send 
it to you to give Miss Annie Wheeler. I am 
so isolated here, that at least for a couple of 
weeks I will be unable to reach any music 



* 



Lost sheep 



Prepara- 
tions for 
Christ mas. 



* 



* 



182 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Flowers. 



* 



store, so will have to depend largely on fath- 
er's collection, and take his leavings. I am 
anxious the chapel should be decorated; as 
to presents, trees, &c, I 've not reached that 
yet. 

While out here I have found some very 
pretty flowers, that will probably grow east ; 
inclosed you will find the seeds of one of 
them, something like a lily. It should be 
started in a pot, and then transplanted. 
Please keep the seed, as I am anxious to see 
if it will grow with us. 

This morning is cloudy, and threatens 
snow. We look for the Indians Saturday. 

Give love to father, and regards to in- 
quiring friends. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 

Los Pinos, Friday, 8th Nov., 1878. 
My dear Father — 

Yours of Oct. 29th received yesterday. 
Sorry to hear your rheumatism is again as- 
serting itself. This country has quite a rheu- 
matic reputation; most every body has more 
or less of it; I have not altogether escaped, 
and the Indians are quite subject to it. Since 
their removal from their old agency at Coch- 



* 



*■ 



UTB COMMISSION. 



■Si 



183 



etopa, mortality has been very great. The 
cause is probably to be found in the large 
number of hot springs that empty into the 
Uncompahgre river, near the town of Ouray. 
A dirty scum accumulates on these springs, 
and is then carried off and dissolved in the 
river. Some genuine cases of typhoid fever 
have occurred, undoubtedly produced by the 
poisoned water. 

While I write, three chiefs are standing 
by the stove. They came in about midnight; 
are ready and anxious to go to Washington. 
I hold a council to - morrow. 

I send a package of bulbs by to-day's 
mail. 

Love to mother; kind regards to all. 
Affectionately, your son Will. 

Los Pinos Indian Agency, Col., 

Friday night, 8th Nov., 1878. 
Mrs. Wm. Stickney, 

Washington City, D. C. 
My dear Mother — 

I have a council on the tapis (that is, 
figuratively speaking, for I have not seen a 
carpet for quite a while) to - morrow morning, 
and I must therefore write you this evening. 



* 



Great 
mortality. 



* 



*■ 



184 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Indian 
chiefs. 



Christmas 
festival. 



I 



Three of the chiefs have been in here 
(the agent's office, parlor, and reception 
room) all the evening. One of them (Billy) 
wanted to know to whom I was writing. I 
told him, and he wished to be remembered; 
said he would like to see my "piatch." — (Ute 
for mother. ) 

I have had an informal talk with these 
three this evening, and trust sincerely my 
efforts to-morrow will be successful. I 
should be very sorry to take the Commis- 
sion any thing but a favorable report. 

If I repeat myself in writing so often, 
you must excuse it, as I have no copying 
book with me. 

Has father done any thing about speak- 
ers for Christmas Festival? If he has not, 
please ask him to write Dr. Lorimer before it 
is too late. Last year, you know, he had a 
previous engagement. We ought to be at 
the head of the list this year. But I am 
tired and sleepy, and must go to bed now. 

Love to father, and kind regards to 
friends. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 

P. S. — Saturday morning. 

A dark, damp morning; a mist — almost 



* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



185 



a rain. Have just come from breakfast: — 
ham, beef hash, potatoes poorly boiled, and 
sour bread, butter and tea very fair, heavy 
doughnuts, and good molasses — a fair sam- 
ple of our food. 

Yesterday I wrote Theo, asking him to 
look up some Christmas music for the chapel. 
So if he comes round to talk music, you will 
know what started him. 

The way things look now, unless per- 
mitted to take some of these Indians to W., 
I doubt if I can finish up my Secretary's 
work before the middle of Dec. , and in that 
event can only assist in carrying out any 
plans for our Christmas Festival. W. S. S. 

Los Pinos Indian Agency, Col., 

Monday, 11th Nov., 1878. 
Mrs. Wm. Stickney, 

Washington City, D. C. 
My dear Mother — 

Another council on hand for this morn- 
ing. The weather is very disagreeable, and 
I am in doubt whether it will meet the pleas- 
ure of these "noble red men" to keep their 
appointment this morning. They are as 
fickle as the weather. 

23 



Breakfast. 



St 



* 



* 



186 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



A dreary 
day. 



Indian 
Saooath. 



Indian 
service. 



* 



Yesterday was a long, dreary day. I 
did n't feel very vigorous, and it was not till 
late in the afternoon I felt like reading any 
thing. Outside it was snow and rain, mixed 
and separate. In the evening I found a 
book containing a sketch of Savonarola, and 
sat up till half past ten to read it through. 

The Indians have little regard for the 
Sabbath, and the agent has no service; not 
even Bible reading. Even if he had the 
disposition, it would be difficult to find a 
room here. The office is not larger than our 
library, and the chiefs and head men fill it 
up as they sit around on the floor, desks, 
boxes, and wherever they can. 

A good sized room, combining a chapel, 
school room, and council chamber, should be 
provided. 

But I have made so many suggestions 
about the Indian service, here and elsewhere, 
I fear you will think me a regular fault- 
finder. 

By to morrow's mail I will try and send 
a pen-and-ink sketch of the agency and 
surrounding mountains, made for me by Mr. 
Flint, a Dartmouth graduate, and an ex- 
employee. 



* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



187 



Love to father; kind regards to friends. 
Affectionately, your son 

Will S. Stickney. 

Los Pinos Indian Agency, Col., 

Tuesday, 12th Nov., 1878. 
My dear Father — 

Council No. 1 is a thing of the past; but 
as a memento, I have the signatures of all 
the Indian men in this vicinity to a paper 
giving their consent to whatever disposition 
the southern Utes might make of the "L" 
part of the Reservation. 

After signing, the head chief said, u We 
bear no ill will towards the Great Father, 
but we do n't want the presents he sent." 

I tried to find out the reason for this 
unusual conduct, and from what I could 
learn — First, they didn't want the Great 
Father to think he must send a lot of pres- 
ents to the Utes every time he wants them 
to do any thing; and, secondly, those Utes 
not here might think it was the purchase- 
money for the lower land. 

Yesterday I felt very miserably, and 
would have spent most of the day on the 
bed but for the council; but when we were 



*■ 



Council 
No. 1. 



*■ 



* 



188 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNBY. 



Speech to 
the In- 
dians. 



The Ute 

Wehster. 



Beautiful 

view. 



►fr 



fairly started, I was so interested, in the 
chief especially, that I forgot my indisposi- 
tion. When the council convened, I was 
alone with the Indians and interpreter; the 
rest of the white folks being at dinner. I 
opened with a speech, and never had a more 
attentive audience. Twenty- three Indians 
were in the room, huddled together as best 
they could. When I finished, the head chief, 
Sapovoneri, made a speech to his people; it 
was natural eloquence; though spoken in an 
unknown tongue to me, I could not but feel 
that his utterances were those of an Ute 
Webster. 

I wish I could describe this man. His face 
something like grandfather Kendall's, a very 
bright eye, high forehead, and an expression 
of intelligence that many of those who legis- 
late for him would be proud to have. His 
build is strong, medium height, wears a light 
felt hat, high crown, with an eagle's feather. 
This king of the Utes rules wisely, and his 
word is law. 

I wish you could see the beautiful view 
from the piazza. The range is covered with 
snow, and in the clear, thin air seems but a 
little way off, though it is 30 miles distant. 



* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



180 



Hope your rheumatism is on the mend, 
and that you will be in good condition for 
Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas prepar- 
ations. 

Love to mother, and kind regards to the 
bank folks. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 

Los Pinos Indian Agency, Col., 

Thursday night, 14th Nov., 1878. 
Mrs. Wm. Stickney, 

Washington City, D. C. 
My dear Mother — 

I have had a peculiar experience to-day, 
and do not feel particularly in the mood for 
writing, but as I expect to go to Ouray to- 
morrow, will write a few lines to - day. 

As yet I have heard nothing from Wash- 
ington in regard to taking the Indians on; 
hope something will corne soon, as I am 
anxious to start. 

To-day the goods were issued. The 

agent said it was impossible to secure the 

names of the Indians receiving supplies, and 

he has not done it at any time. I requested 

the Lieutenant and the Doctor to remain at 

i 
the door of the blacksmith shop, where the 



*■ 



A peculiar 
day. 



*3& 



100 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Persever- 
ance. 



A grand 
rascal. 



Presents 
to Indians. 



►Ill- 



issue was made, and we have a name — in 
a few cases manufactured by the Indians — 
but at all events a name for every head 
of a family that received any of the pres- 
ents. I was discouraged from attempting 
it, both by the agent and the escort, but 
the Will brought the way this time. Dur- 
ing the issue, one of the ex -chiefs began 
to fight one of the plebs., but the result was 
not serious. 

This pugilistic fellow is Chavano, a great 
rascal. He ought to be hung to the nearest 
tree, and if I can secure the evidence, of 
which there is plenty, against him that will 
put him in prison for life, you may be sure I 
will do so. He has boasted that he has 
killed a white man, and I have no doubt 
he has killed many. The Indians dislike 
him, and the whites hate him. 

Each Indian received fourteen yards of 
calico, two pairs stockings, five yards flan- 
nel, two spools of cotton, two papers nee- 
dles, two flannel shirts, four yards ticking, 
two handkerchiefs, and the chiefs, flannel, 
shawls, shirts, and socks extra. Every one 
seemed satisfied and happy. When the tick- 
ets were given out I passed around about 



* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



191 



fifty pounds of candy,, and you should have 
seen how the young ones enjoyed it. I was 
real glad to see the little folks have such a 
good time; these poor little things do n't 
wear much, and have a pretty hard time. 

I saw one real pretty squaw. She has 
just had her photograph taken. If I can get 
one, you shall have it. Wass, her husband, 
is one of two who are bigamists; the other is 
one of the proposed delegates to Washington. 

What are you so busy about? I have n't 
heard from any of you for several days. I 
quote father's words: — "A postal, even, is 
very comforting." But I must go to bed. 

Love to father, and kind regards to 
friends. 

Affectionately, your son 

Will S. Stickney. 

Los Pinos, Col., Sunday, Nov. 17, 1878. 
Mrs. Wm. Stickney, 

Washington City, D. C. 
My dear Mother — 

Your letter of the 4th inst. reached me 
at Ouray yesterday. I am very sorry to 
hear father has been sick; but suppose he is 
improving, or you would have telegraphed. 



©" 



A pretty 
squaw. 



Bigamists. 



* 



* 



192 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Headache. 



High 
prices. 



Unexpect- 
ed twist. 



In good 
spirits. 



*• 



I am glad every day that he did not venture 
this Rocky Mountain country. The altitude 
is so great that few persons escape being 
affected. The whole time I was in Ouray, 
my head ached hard; but it is all right now. 

I had quite a good time in Ouray, but 
was considerably put out by the high prices 
— always higher to those purchasing for the 
Gov't. 

One man amused me very much, by say- 
ing people could live in this country who 
could n't live any where else. I replied, 
such were my sentiments, judging from the 
specimens I had seen. The unexpected twist 
from the sanitary to the moral, that I gave 
his statement, was most too much for the 
gravity of the listeners. 

Only a few people remain in town, living 
is so costly — sugar twenty- two, pepper sev- 
enty cents per pound, and other things in 
proportion. We daily see people leaving, 
expecting to return in the spring. 

Some surveying friends dropped in on us 
last night. They leave to-day for the east; 
wish I could go with them. 

There is nothing new about here. I am 
in pretty good spirits; not much congeniality 



* 



I* 



XJTE COMMISSION. 



"IS 



193 



with the people; so my life may be described 
as " staying.'' I hope to leave by the last of 
the week. 

Thanks to friends for kind inquiries. 
Please remember me to all such. 

Love to father. Hoping by this time 
you are both well, I will rest easy till I hear 
again. Affectionately, your son 

Will S. Stickney. 

Los Pinos, Nov. 18, 1878. 
My dear Father — 

I am still waiting to hear from the Gen- 
eral. If he does not answer soon, I shall 
leave for a warmer clime. 

Have had an informal talk with the 
chiefs, and with two of them visited the four 
mile square, twenty- five miles off. They 
said they would agree to the sale, but are 
anxious for a delegation to Washington. 

I still think this the best thing to do. 
They will have their present notions very 
much modified by the sight of civilization, 
and a better comprehension of the strength 
of the Government. It will be easy to select 
men of good judgment, who have the confi- 
dence of the tribe. 

24 



*■ 



Delega- 
tion to 
Washing- 
ton. 



* 



* 



194 



MEMOIR OP W. S. STICKNEY. 



■5< 



Mental 
capacity 



* 



The mental exercises of these sons of the 
forest are very simple. They can scarcely 
do more than draw conclusions from prem- 
ises that appeal to the senses; to tell them of 
the strength and resources of the Govern- 
ment has but little effect; to show it to them, 
is to convince. 

I certainly hope word will soon come 
about their going. I want to leave this 
country; the altitude is altogether too great. 

Love to mother, and kind regards to in- 
quiring friends. 

Affectionately, your son 

Will S. Stickney. 

Los Pinos Indian Agency, Colorado, 

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 1878. 
Mrs. Wm. Stickney, 

Washington City, D. C. 
My dear Mother — 

While waiting for the team to be hitched 
up that will probably take me to Ouray, I 
will report to you and father. Rather than 
carry the silver back to Lake City, I am 
going to take it to Ouray (twenty- five miles 
distant), and have checks and greenbacks 
instead, and if all is well, hope to leave this 



•>* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



■^ 



105 



part of the country on Thursday for Garland. 
Expect to eat my Thanksgiving dinner there; 
but do n't pretend to know any thing about 
my movements so far ahead. 

Last night I went down, by invitation, 
to an Indian dance. I do n't know when I 
have laughed so heartily; the odd music (?) 
and the peculiar figures would have non- 
plused a Saratoga belle. I joined the or- 
chestra, and then had to laugh at my own 
music. I hope you will be able to see some 
of these fellows exercise their heels; it will 
take you back to the queer manners of the 
Orientals. Wouldn't it be odd if I had 
played last night for one of old Jacob's sons 
to dance? and yet, the more I see of these 
people, the more I am convinced that they 
belong to other stock than ours. 

Love to father, and kind regards to 
friends. 

Affectionately, your son 

Will S. Stickney. 



3* 



Hope and 
expecta- 
tion. 



Indian 
dance. 



* 



3+ 



196 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Good news 



'* 



Fort Garland, Colorado, 

Monday, 25th Nov., 1878. 
Mrs. Wm. Stickney, 

Washington City, D. C. 
My dear Mother — 

Your letters of Oct. 28 and Nov. 12, and 
postals of 9th and 15th inst., came to hand 
last Friday night in Lake City. 

Last Monday some of the chiefs wanted 
to go back to their camps for a week or so to 
see how matters were progressing. I imme- 
diately told them, if they left I should come 
here, where I could be comfortable and in 
telegraphic communication with Washington. 

Hurrah ! ! Telegram from General Hatch 
this moment received. Says I am to take 
the delegation to Washington. Now I feel 
quite sure of being with you Christmas. 
But, veto anions nous a nos moutons. 

Left the agency Thursday, and rode 
thirty- five miles to the Cimaron River, Col., 
(there is another in New Mexico. ) The road 
was very muddy and hilly, but we made 
good time, and reached the cabin before 
night. The meal would have been pretty 
scant had I not brought some canned baked 
beans and tomatoes with me. 



m 



* 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



197 



After supper I spread my bedding on 
some hay in one corner of the room, and 
there slept. At four o'clock the next morn- 
ing we were on the way to Lake City in a 
buckboard. As this team only went to In- 
dian Creek. I hired a "private conveyance'' 
to take me to my destination. 

The aforesaid conveyance was an old 
farm wagon, and we were seven hours and 
a half going twenty- two miles: that made 
fifteen hours for that day. 

Saturday I left Lake City at half -past 
six in the morning, and had another beau- 
tiful ride across the range; had little or no 
snow, reached Del Norte about eight in the 
evening, and then took a "jerky" and rode 
all night, reaching Alamosa about half -past 
three. A very severe snow storm set in 
about nine and lasted during the night. I 
had a buffalo robe given me at White River; 
this did me good service. Do not think I 
caught the least cold. One of the passen- 
gers was very drunk, and his soliloquies and 
incoherent babblings rendered sleep impos- 
sible. 

The train left Alamosa at (5:20 a. m., so 
I had about two hours' sleep on the sofa in 



Rough- 
ing it. 



Across 
the range 



A drunken 
passenger. 



± + 



* 



198 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■* 



Corres- 
pondence. 



©" 



the hotel. Arrived here at 7:30, having 
traveled about two hundred and twenty- five 
miles from Thursday morning to Sunday 
at half -past seven. Yesterday slept nearly 
all day, and now feel quite rested. 

Have written eleven letters to - day, and 
am getting tired. This business gives me 
a large official correspondence. 

Telegraphed you yesterday of my arri- 
val; thought you would be glad to hear of 
my safe return. 

Did the bulbs reach you safely? But I 
must stop, as I have three more letters to 
write to-night, besides some copying that 
should be done. 

Give lots of love to father. Expect to 
be in Washington about the 15th prox., and 
want him to see me. So he must tell Dr. 
Marmion to hurry and cure those eyes. 

Kind regards to friends. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 

P. S. Inclosed you will find the card of 
Mr. , a gossipy gas-bag, masculine gen- 
der, singular number, and invariably first 
person; agrees best with whiskey, unqual- 
ified. W. S. S. 



* 



* 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



199 



Fort Garland, Colorado, 

Last day of Nov., 1878. 
Mrs. Wm. Stickney, 

Washington City, D. C. 
My dear Mother — 

As I have received no news from home 
for several days, suppose you must be ex- 
pecting my return. 

Have been at work all day copying the 
remainder of my minutes; no small job. 
This evening am feeling quite well, though 
very tired. Am anxious to hear how father's 
eyes are. 

The church letter business is no more 
than I expected; regret very much the spirit 
that prompted it. No church can prosper 
if the spirit of jealousy or what not receives 
more attention than that holy strife — I might 
call it — to verify the exhortation of Holy 
Writ, "Brethren, see that ye love one an- 
other with a pure heart." But 'tis not for 
us to remonstrate. No load is ever given 
us greater than we can bear. Let us try and 
"do the duties that lie next us," and the 
result will be all right. 

The mail has just come, but brings no- 
thing from home. 



*■ 



No news. 



* 



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■* 



•>oo 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Hunting 
small 
game. 



Love to father and yourself. 
Affectionately, your son 



Will. 



Mr 



Fort Garland, Colorado, 

Tuesday p. m., 3d Dec, 1878. 
Wm. Stickney, 

Washington, D. C. 
My dear Mother — 

You see I am still here, though likely 
to pull out in a few days. This p. m. re- 
ceived despatch from the Commission, say- 
ing I was to bring the Indians on with their 
share of the money due them; but I have n't 
any of their money; Gen. Hatch has it all. 
Have telegraphed the General, and guess 
he will transfer without any further trouble. 
Will try hard to reach home by the 15th. 

This morning, for recreation, I went with 
Maj. Shorkley hunting jack rabbits; some- 
thing like a hare, only four or five times as 
large. It was my first hunt for a good many 
years. Enjoyed the tramp ever so much. 
Think I will do more hunting; it exercises 
a body all over. The next time I come into 
this country, will bring my own gun. 

For a game country I never saw a better; 
though on the line between Wyoming and 



* 



* 



I* 



14 



UTE COMMISSION. 



201 



Colorado it is said to he magnificent — deer, 
elk, antelope, and mountain sheep, sage- 
hens, and trout three times a day! 
Love to father and yourself. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 

Fort Garland, Colorado, 

Saturday night, Dec. 7, 1878. 
Mrs. Wm. Stickney, 

Washington City, D. C. 
My dear Mother — 

I rather guess another Saturday night 
will pass before seeing you once again, but 
trust it will be only a few days over. Am so 
glad to hear father is better; not hearing for 
so long, feared he was worse. 

My plans are all made to leave for home, 
but they may be changed. 

Most of the time here is occupied in copy- 
ing the minutes, making out reports, &c. 

Christmas must not go by without some 
demonstration. Tell father I'll be all ready 
to help him and myself out in a little while; 
but he must have something to start with; 
have not been able to lay hands on a 
thing here. Will see if the Indians have 
any performances sufficiently dignified for 

25 



Christmas 
prepara- 
tions. 



■© 



* 



* 



202 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Waiting. 



►fr 



such an occasion. Billy might make a 
speech; he knows a little English. But we 
will see. 

Good night. Love to father and your- 
self. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 

Denver, Dec. 14, 1878. 
My dear Father — 

You know the "best laid plans of mice 
and men gang aft aglee," and though I left 
every thing at the agency in such shape that 
half a day's notice would start my delega- 
tion, now they are debating again who 
should go, and I am waiting for their slug- 
gish minds to come to a conclusion. Com- 
munication is so slow in that country that 
it is impossible to tell the result for three or 
four days at least. Had rather wait than 
go after them across the mountains in an 
open wagon. 

The Com'r, in his dispatch, says nothing 
as to how I am to pay the expenses of the 
delegation. Of course I declined to budge 
an inch till this was provided for, and there 
have several days been consumed in tele- 
graphing, mailing. &c, between the Com- 



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UTE COMMISSION. 



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•203 



missioner of Indian Affairs, General Hatch, 
and myself, which ought to have been avoid- 
ed. The Com'r asked me, by telegraph, if 
the Indians would consent to have the ex- 
penses of the delegation paid from their 
funds. The Indians were at Los Pinos, I 
at Fort Garland, seventy- two miles distant, 
two mountain ranges between, and no tele- 
graph ! 

I occupy myself reading Gibbon and 
superintending the manufacture of a pair of 
boots. 

Will telegraph when we leave, and if 
the delegation is too slow, will put them in 
charge of an interpreter and go ahead. 

Love to mother. 

Affectionately, Will. 

Denver, Col., Dec. 16, 1878. 
My dear Father — 

Just one more letter from Denver, and 
then 1 11 try a change of base, and call it 
Topeka for a while. 

This morning started Curtis, the inter- 
preter, after my Indian delegation, and to- 
morrow I expect to take the train for Topeka, 
where I will assist the Judge in preparing 



Occupa- 
tion. 



Topeka. 



* 



* 



* 



204 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



fc 



Good 
health. 



Christmas 
announce- 
ment. 



the report; that means about three days' 
hard work. Am trying to fix matters so I 
will not be specially needed. Will ask the 
Judge to accompany them from Topeka, and 
if he will, please have the carriage at B. & P. 
depot at nine o'clock, p. m., Dec. 24. 

Last night heard a first-rate sermon 
from the Baptist minister on "Manliness;" 
enjoyed the service very much. 

To - day we have had more snow, and I 
have spent the time reading, with the excep- 
tion of my morning walk. 

Health first-rate; never better; but will 
be glad to be home once more. 

Kind regards to the bank friends. Love 
to mother and yourself. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 

P. S. I have a Christmas announcement 
for you and mother: After very careful and 
prayerful thought, have concluded not to go 
west to live. Will remain in Washington, 
and practice law there — at least, there will 
be my home. Will. 



* 



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UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



205 



Topeka, Ks., Dec. 20, 1878. 
My dear Father — 

You see I have at last made a start. Am 
detained here, having a good time, waiting 
for my wards. They left the agency day 
before yesterday, I suppose, so you may ex- 
pect us all before long. Hope to be with you 
on the eve of the 25th, Indians or no Indians; 
but trust we may all arrive together, and 
that I may, together with you, celebrate the 
dies dierum. 

I have almost lost my patience waiting 
for these Indians. One day they would say 
"Yes," and the next, "No," — unable to de- 
cide who should constitute the delegation. 

Had I been there, think I would have 
brought them to a decision subito. 

About fourteen inches of snow here, and 
splendid sleighing, though the sleighs are 
most all improvised. 

The Judge will leave here with me. Love 
to mother. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 

On Christmas eve our hearts were made 
glad and thankful by the safe return of the 
dear boy, who had been absent so long, and 



*■ 



Indians or 

no Indians 



Home 
again. 



* 



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•300 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



who had labored so faithfully and energeti- 
cally, amidst some trying embarrassments, to 
discharge, to the satisfaction of the Govern- 
ment and the Commission, the arduous du- 
ties of his position. 

The experience and duties were all new, 
and the members of the Commission were 
strangers; yet with that self-reliance which 
always characterized him; with an honest 
determination to devote his best energies to 
the work; stimulated by an honorable ambi- 
tion to deserve well of his associates; unde- 
terred by obstacles which might have dis- 
couraged one of less enthusiasm; conscious 
of the responsibilities he had assumed; he 
entered with characteristic vigor upon the 
expedition. 

His success was equal to his expecta- 
tions. His associates were captivated by 
his courteous deportment, obliging disposi- 
tion, executive ability, and his wonderful 
energy and resources so frequently brought 
into requisition during the trip. 

Notwithstanding his unaccustomed ex- 
posure and hardship; his night and day 
travel by rail, wagon, and horseback; his 
hard fare and poor accommodations while 



*■ 



■>£ 



* 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



20? 



in the Indian country, he returned in im- 
proved health, with a decided gain in flesh. 

His spirits were never better. He was 
enthusiastic over the success of the Com- 
mission; had gained useful information con- 
cerning the extent and resources of the coun- 
try; was becoming more and more interested 
in the Indians, for whose amelioration he 
made many useful suggestions to the Depart- 
ment; he had looked upon the ''Ocean of 
Peace" through the Golden Gate, and he 
now declared himself ready to work for the 
church and Sunday School, or wherever he 
could do the most good. 

Just here it may not be out of place to 
insert the following Report to the Hon. Ute 
Commissioners, not only for its inherent in- 
terest, but also for the evidence it gives of 
careful study of the situation, and thorough- 
ness of execution in the trust committed to 
him. Indeed, the manner in which he did 
his work, on the several occasions on which 
he was called to do public service, justify 
the remark, often made, that his death was 
more than a loss to his family and imme- 
diate friends. 



*■ 



Improved 
health. 



Ready fo 
work. 



Faithful- 
ness to his 
trust. 



A com- 
mon loss. 



* 



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208 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Report. 



*" 



REPORT. 

Fort Garland, Colo., 

November 27, 1878. 
Gentlemen — 

At a meeting of the Commission held in 
Denver September 11, and also by a supple- 
mental telegram dated September 24, 1878, 
the Secretary, accompanied by Lieut. C. A. 
H. McCauley, as escort, was instructed to 
' ' proceed as speedily as possible to the White 
River agency, to complete arrangements al- 
ready made with U. M. Curtis, interpreter, 
to report as to the condition of the Indians 
and the agricultural capacity of the country, 
and to secure from the Indians, in writing, 
their consent to the sale of that part of the- 
Reservation immediately south and west of 
the San Juan mining district," and then 
"to proceed to the Uintah agency with the 
same instructions." 

In pursuance of these instructions, I beg 
leave to present the following as my report: 

Thursday morning, September 12, 1878, 
Lieutenant McCauley and myself took the 
Denver Pacific Railroad to Cheyenne, and 
thence the Union Pacific to Fort Steele, in 



* 



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UTE COMMISSION. 



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200 



all about 284 miles, reaching the last-named 
place at midnight. 

Major Thornburg, commander of the post, 
received us and kindly accommodated us at 
his own table. 

The following day was occupied in se- 
curing an outfit with which to make the 
trip. The officers of the post placed at our 
disposal a buck -board and a pair of mules. 
At Rawlins, some sixteen miles distant, I 
hired a guide and an extra pair of horses, 
which were sent ahead as a relay. 

Saturday, September 14th, we left Fort 
Steele for the agency, riding that day about 
sixty miles. From the Fort to Pine Grove, 
the ranch where the relay awaited us, is 
an alkali country, generally rolling, and 
with very little vegetation save sage-brush 
and grease -wood. After leaving Rawlins 
we passed but one house, and that is about 
sixteen miles out. From the Grove to Snake 
River the road crosses the Continental Di- 
vide, a series of high mesas separated by 
arroyas of greater or less depth. These 
table -lands abound in game, and furnish 
good summer ranges for cattle. Grass and 
sage-brush are the products of the soil, ex- 

26 



Continen- 
tal divide. 



* 



4> 



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210 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Stock 
raising 



* 



cept on the banks of an occasional stream, 
where the cotton - wood seems to flourish. 

The second day we rode about fifty-jone 
miles, crossing Snake River Valley to Forti- 
fication Creek. This valley, about two miles 
wide at the crossing, is beautifully located, 
partially protected by high plateaus, and 
with good mountain pastures at its head. 
The river is lined with cotton -wood and the 
bottom-land well covered with grass. On 
our return, about eight miles above the river- 
crossing, we passed a mild soda -spring; the 
only mineral development of the valley re- 
ported. 

Quite a number of settlers have already 
located along the river, an Indian trader, 
still doing a flourishing business, being the 
pioneer. The principal occupation is stock- 
raising; the cattle ranging about the moun- 
tains in summer, and sixty or seventy miles 
west and south in the winter, where the 
grass is not covered with snow. Little is 
done at farming, the settlers having no 
chance to grind their wheat nor market for 
their vegetables. But most of the usual 
crops, except corn, so far as they have been 
tried, seem to do well. 



* 



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UTE COMMISSION. 



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211 



The third day we crossed the Bear Riv- 
er, known on the map as the "Yampa." 
Like the Snake, this valley, though sparsely 
settled, is used principally for cattle -ranges. 
The season being short and the demand 
small, little or nothing is done in the way of 
farming. The Indian trader at this post, the 
nearest to the agency, has a small garden, 
and supplied' us with fresh tomatoes and 
very fine potatoes of his own raising. 

From this valley to the agency, about 
sixty miles, the road crosses mountain ran- 
ges of no mean height; but before sundown 
Tuesday, the 17th, after riding in four days 
about two hundred miles, we reached the 
White River Valley and the Indian agen- 
cy. 

The agent, Mr. N. C. Meeker, received 
us very cordially, and introduced us to the 
scanty quarters and poor fare of the agency 
boarding - house. 

Wednesday a council was convened, and, 
as a result, I have the pleasure to submit 
herewith the written consent of the most of 
the chiefs and headmen, viz., thirty- four in 
number, to "whatever disposition the Ca- 
potes, Muaches, and Weeminuches may 



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212 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■S 



Murder in 
Middle 
Park. 



* 



make" of the southern and western strips 
of the Reservation. 

The Indians were very friendly, and 
wished the Great Father to distinctly un- 
derstand that they, the White River Utes, 
do not want to fight nor in any way incur 
the displeasure of the whites. In regard 
to the late murder in Middle Park, they dis- 
claim all connection. Washington, who was 
present at the murder, claimed to have ad- 
vised Piah against it, but his counsel was 
disregarded. Piah has not yet returned to 
the agency. If he could be caught and 
punished by the government authorities, the 
effect on the Indians would unquestionably 
be for the best, and would have a tendency 
to prevent an early repetition of the crime. 

Mr. Curtis, employed as interpreter by 
the Commission, presented his report as to 
the arable land between the Los Pinos and 
the White River agencies. It is submitted 
herewith. I also approved his action in 
proceeding to Middle Park so promptly with 
seven of the leading Indians to prevent any 
further trouble by an apprehension on the 
part of the settlers that a general outbreak 
was imminent. 



+ 



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UTE COMMISSION. 



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213 



The presents ordered by the Commission 
for these Indians had not arrived, and as 
the agent has no interpreter, I instructed 
Mr. Curtis to remain until they came, and 
with the agent to distribute them to the 
Indians who had assisted the work of the 
Commission. 

On my return, the goods having reached 
Bear (Yampa) River, I stopped a day at 
the trader's store to inspect them and ap- 
prove the bill. 

The condition of the White River In- 
dians and the agricultural capacity of their 
country seem to -be but little known outside 
of the agency and its vicinage. The old 
distinction of the Yampa and Grand River 
bands is rapidly disappearing, and they all 
call themselves "White River" Utes. The 
chief no longer has absolute authority, but 
acts only in accordance with the will of a 
majority of his councilors. They are all well 
off; hardly an Indian has less than twenty - 
five ponies. All have good guns and an 
abundance of ammunition. Game is plen- 
tiful, and the Indians are rich from their 
hunting. They hunt off the Reservation, 
going two, three, and four hundred miles 



3+ 



White Ri- 
ver Utes. 



* 



* 



14 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Grazing 

country. 



*■ 



north, preferring to keep their own game 
intact until the rest is gone. They also own 
in common fifteen hundred head of cattle, 
from which herd the beef is supplied. None 
of these cattle are supposed to be killed with- 
out the consent of the agent. 

The White River Valley is so mild and 
so well protected in winter that the herd can 
graze within sixteen miles of the present 
agency during the whole season. This is 
the place to which the honorable Commis- 
sioner of Indian Affairs has ordered the 
removal of the agency. There the valley 
is wider, and the fall of the river so great 
that irrigating ditches are being easily con- 
structed, and a fall of sixty feet for milling 
purposes can be secured. The agent is al- 
ready breaking up the ground, and hopes 
to obtain a wheat crop at least by next sea- 
son. 

The settlers on Snake and Bear Rivers 
regard this valley as far superior to their 
own, and better adapted for grazing and 
agricultural purposes than any other part 
of this country. All seemed to concur that 
at least five thousand Indians could be sup- 
ported there; the agent, a professional far- 



* 



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UTE COMMISSION. 



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215 



mer, claiming that he can support ten thou- 
sand people in that valley and its subsidia- 
ries. He also says: "This White River 
range on the Reservation is unequalled in 
the west, and it possesses the great advan- 
tage of not being trespassed upon by any 
other herds; a condition that diminishes the 
labor of herding and reduces the losses by 
estrays and stealings. This range has a 
money value of at least $50,000. There is 
no section comparable with it south of the 
divide between White and Grand Rivers.'' 

This country seems much better adapted 
for cultivation than the Uncompahgre Val- 
ley. It lies south of the mountain ranges, 
which protect it from the extreme cold; it is 
fully as near a railroad, about 175 miles over 
a good natural road, and is well removed 
from the settlers. Should it be thought best 
to consolidate the Los Pinos with the White 
River agency, there certainly would be no 
difficulty in supplying them; the White Riv- 
ers probably have not more than 400, cer- 
tainly less than 500, and your honorable 
body has already approximated the number 
in Ouray's band as about 1,000, making a 
total of, at most, 1,500 Indians. 



*■ 



* 



* 



•MH 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■* 



Police 
necessary. 



*■ 



In reporting as to the needs of these 
people, I would beg leave to call attention 
to the necessity of a police force. The agent 
has not secured his quota allowed by law, 
deeming such a small number insufficient 
to compel obedience. Some of these Indians 
need something more than moral suasion. 
While the majority mean well, and would 
probably prevent any open outbreak, the few 
who are ill - disposed can make great trouble 
for the agent, and commit depredations in 
the vicinity of the Reservation with little 
fear of being punished. A Ute police could 
do much toward preventing a repetition of 
the Middle Park calamity, and be of great 
value in securing the guilty should any in- 
subordination occur. 

Another want now felt at the agency is 
a trading -post. At present the nearest is 
sixty miles, and the next fifty miles beyond. 
If these trips of one and two hundred miles 
for barter could be checked, it would un- 
doubtedly help to keep these people on the 
Reservation and localize them. Certainly 
some good might be effected by allowing 
any and all traders to build first - class build- 
ings at the agency and do their trading 



■^ 



Ijfr 



UTE COMMISSION. 



217 



there. Liquor should, of course, be prohib- 
ited, but to make the experiment a success, 
ammunition will have to be sold, though 
that may be easily regulated by the order 
of the agent or the chief of police. So long 
as the present' system of the Government 
obtains in regard to the rations of the In- 
dians, they will have to hunt, and it seems 
but fair that under certain restrictions they 
be allowed to buy their powder and lead at 
reasonable prices, and that, too, on the Res- 
ervation. 

The Indians had considerable to say 
about the money that was due. They seem 
less anxious for the money itself than to 
have the debt in some way discharged. 
There are a few things they would be bene- 
fited by having, and I will ask your per- 
mission to enumerate them: 

First. A grist-mill. It will be difficult 
to make these Indians self-sustaining with- 
out such a mill; and if it were built with 
their own money, they would probably take 
a greater interest in learning how to manage 
it. At present, I am informed, the Govern- 
ment pays nine cents a pound for flour de- 
livered at the agency; the agent estimates it 

27 



* 



Powder 
for In- 
dians. 



* 



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218 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Improve- 
ment of 
stock. 



* 



would cost three cents a pound if he had a 
mill. 

Secondly. About twenty -five short- 
horned bulls. Most of the cattle belonging 
to the Indians are of the long - horned Texas 
stock, and an infusion of the short -horned 
breeds would not only improve the milking 
qualities of the cows, but also increase their 
average weight. If the other band is located 
here, the herd, without great expense, could 
be enlarged sufficiently to meet the demands 
of all the Indians without the aid of beef 
contractors. 

Thirdly. About twelve stallions, well 
adapted for draught purposes. The Indian 
ponies are of very little use, except under the 
saddle, and if work -horses will be needed 
for farm purposes, either they must be pur- 
chased and taken into the country or else the 
native stock must be improved. The In- 
dians think much of their ponies, and any 
effort tending toward their improvement 
would be gratefully appreciated. 

Fourthly. A good stock of farming im- 
plements and seeds. The agent reported 
that several families had expressed their 
willingness to work, but he had no tools for 



* 



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■3< 



UTE COMMISSION. 



219 



them. They do not need expensive articles, 
but something strong and durable, likely to 
stand the hard knocks novices will give them. 
Of seeds, the staples are most needed. 

Fifthly. An increase of the police force 
allowed by law. This agency would, under 
the general act, be allowed eight or nine 
policemen. At the start, if the agencies are 
to be consolidated, it would probably be well 
to have the number increased to fifty, the 
extra to be paid from the tribal fund. Fifty 
men carefully chosen, required to be at or 
near the agency, might help to keep the 
rest of the band from going so far from the 
Reservation. The first year or so such a 
force would need a chief, and a good man 
can now be secured for twelve or fourteen 
hundred dollars. I refer to Captain U. M. 
Curtis; he has great influence with these 
Indians, has lived with them for many years, 
speaks their language well, and has led them 
as soldiers. In Mr. Curtis the agent would 
not only have an interpreter, a want he 
sadly feels at present, but would also have 
in charge of his police a capable man, re- 
spected and looked up to by the Indians. At 
least, work in such a position could be easily 



3+ 



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220 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



No time 
to toe lost. 



* 



tested by a year's trial, it being his duty not 
only to keep the Indians quiet and orderly, 
but make them remain on the Reservation; 
provided, of course, traders at the agency 
are permitted to sell ammunition, though it 
be in limited quantities, and subject to the 
order of the agent. 

In conclusion, whatever is to be done 
should be done quickly. It is very important 
that they should be put to work early in the 
spring, and if they are henceforward to live 
under a new regime, the sooner it is intro- 
duced to them the better. 

It is certainly to be desired that the 
buildings at the new agency will be of a 
somewhat more civilized character than the 
rude log huts at present occupied. The In- 
dians learn only by imitation, and with the 
good saw- mill now on the Reservation, plen- 
ty of lumber, and the good supply of em- 
ployes, there is nothing to prevent the erec- 
tion of comfortable homes, and at the same 
time models fit to be copied. 

I left the agency on my return Wednes- 
day night, September 18, and reached Fort 
Steele Monday, the 23d of September. 

Having received telegraphic instructions 



* 



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UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



•m 



to proceed to the Uintah Reservation, escort- 
ed by Lieutenant McCauley, I left Fort Steele 
September 24, arriving at Salt Lake the eve- 
ning of the following day. 

Thursday, the 26th, was occupied in 
fitting up for the trip. A wagon, warranted 
to carry us over the mountains, and a guide 
were hired. 

Friday morning at sunrise we started, 
and had gone but twenty miles before the 
wagon broke down. Finding it useless to 
attempt the mountains with a broken wagon, 
to save time I hired a horse and sent our 
driver as courier over the trail to the agency, 
requesting the agent to procure of the In- 
dians their release to the country south and 
west of the San Juan district, and returned to 
Salt Lake City. While waiting for the re- 
turn of the courier I received a call from 
Tabby, chief of the Uintahs, and Tacka wan- 
na, sub -chief. They each expressed them- 
selves as pleased with the work they are 
doing at the agency and as willing to sign 
the release. The courier returned with a 
letter from the agent, to the effect that the 
Indians were out hunting, but as soon as 
possible he would convene them and secure 



©" 



Break 
flown. 



■* 



*■ 



222 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Indian 
wants. 



their signatures to the release. About a 
month later I received this document prop- 
erly signed and witnessed, and take pleasure 
in presenting it herewith. 

From the Indians met and agent Critch- 
low it would seem as if their needs were 
about the same as at White River. They 
particularly requested that stoves, wagons, 
and harness be given them, in addition to 
whatever stock and farming implements 
might be sent. 

As requested, I reported on Saturday, 
October 20, at Fort Garland, to the Chairman 
of the Commission. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 
W. S. Stickney, 

Secretary Ute Special Commission. 

The Hon. Ute Commissioners. 

Upon reporting to the Chairman of the 
Commission at Fort Garland, he received 
additional instructions; their execution will 
be found detailed in his report, which follows. 



* 



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UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



223 



INSTRUCTIONS. 

Rooms Ute Commission, 
Alamosa, Colo., October 22, 1878. 

Sir: You will proceed to the Los Pinos 
agency and endeavor to obtain the consent 
of the Ute Indians to sale of all land south 
of 38°. The land now important to secure is 
the Uncompahgre Park adjoined to the town 
of Ouray. 

It is believed the payment of so much 
of their annuities to the Tabequaches, now 
the only tribe whose consent is required to 
relinquish this land south of parallel 38° 10', 
can be obtained, and that the amount of 
$4,000, with the goods authorized purchased 
by the Indian Department, to be issued by 
the agent under the direction of this Com- 
mission, will obtain the consent of these 
Indians to disposal of their lands at such a 
sum as the Commission may believe it is the 
interest of the government to pay and for 
the Indians to receive. 

You will assist the agent in the issue of 
the goods purchased by him, as directed by 
the Indian Department, in letters dated July 



17, 1878. 



You will obtain the signatures in the 



►fr 



* 



* 



2U 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■S3 



manner designated by Department of the 
Interior, in letter of September 25, 1878, copy 
of which is inclosed. You will understand 
that only such Indians are to be paid the 
money annuity as agree to sell and remove 
from the Uncompahgre Park. The question 
of their future reservation is a matter to be 
hereafter decided by the President, through 
the Department of the Interior, on such ac- 
tion as Congress may take. 

If the Indians will not sign an article 
to relinquish the land upon payment of this 
money per capita, you will return the mo- 
ney, or such balance as you may have on 
hand upon making payments under these 
instructions, with report of your action, no- 
tifying the Commission of your arrival at 
Alamosa. 

Lieutenant McCauley, Third Cavalry, is 
ordered to report to Los Pinos Agency, to 
assist and witness payment of annuities, and 
will accompany you on your journey. 
Yours, very respectfully, 

Edward Hatch, 

Brevet Major-General 
and Chairman Ute Special Commission. 

W. S. Stickney, Sec'y Com'n. 



*■ 



* 



*■ 



* 



UTE COMMISSION. 



225 



Washington, Dec. 26, 1878. 
Gentlemen — 

On the 22d day of October I received the 
accompanying instructions from General 
Hatch, Chairman of the Commission. 

The following is therefore submitted as 
a partial report. 

I left Alamosa, accompanied by Lieut. 
C. A. H. McCauley, on the night of the 23d 
of October, with $2,000 in standard silver 
dollars, the same amount in checks on the 
First National Bank of Denver, and five 
boxes of goods as presents for the Indians. 
In due time we arrived at our destination 
with both money and goods. 

Most of the Indians were hunting when 
we reached the agency, but messengers were 
soon dispatched, and in a few days a council 
was convened, and as a result I have the 
pleasure of submitting to you the release of 
the Reservation south and west of the San 
Juan district by the Tabequaches. 

For reasons which I deemed satisfactory 
the agent preferred that the presents pur- 
chased by the Commission at Alamosa should 
be paid for out of the tribal funds in posses- 
sion of the Chairman, rather than by certified 



* 



Partial 
report. 



Result of 
Council. 



* 



* 



226 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



vouchers issued by the agent; I therefore 
submit a receipt for all the goods delivered 
to the Indians. 

It was with considerable difficulty that 
they were induced to receive the presents, 
Sapovoneri, the chief, declaring that the 
Great Father must not think it necessary to 
send presents every time he wished a favor 
of them. The money they requested me to 
return to the Great Father, or with it pay 
the expenses of a delegation to Washington; 
they declined to receive it, as it had not 
been given them when promised. They 
evidently feared that it was a ruse to pur- 
chase the Uncompahgre Park, in regard to 
which they declined to treat. Finding them 
very anxious to have a delegation visit 
Washington, I was encouraged to believe 
that if a few of the leading men of the 
tribe could talk with the President in person, 
the sale of the four -mile square could be 
effected. 

Authority was requested to take such 
delegation to Washington, and permission 
having been granted, I sent Captain U. M. 
Curtis, as interpreter, to bring them from the 
agency here. 



& 



4 



>£■ 



* 



UTE COMMISSION. 



As soon as any .definite conclusion is 
come to in regard to sale of the Park I will 
report it at once to your honorable body. 

After Lieutenant McCauley witnessed the 
issue of the presents to the Indians he re- 
turned to Alamosa. 

The checks and unexpended balance of 
the $2,000 cash, together with duplicate re- 
ceipts, have been returned to the Chairman, 
as per his receipts. 

Very respectfully, 

W. S. Stickney, 

Secretary Uie Special Commission. 

To the honorable the 

Ute Special Commission. 

An untried and unexpected experience 
now awaited my son, which was destined to 
prove the strength of his christian faith, as 
his late employment had tested his ability for 
severe mental and physical labor. 

The particulars of these strange proceed- 
ings will be given in another chapter. 



New expo 
rience. 



* 



* 



>£— . , |X| 



CHAPTER V. 



CHURCH TROUBLES. 



Thy friend has a friend, and thy friend's friend has a friend: be discreet. 

— Talmud. 



gj ; — g( 



*■ 



CHURCH TROUBLES. 



* 



231 



^ USTICE to the memory of my son calls 
<g) for a brief statement of his connection 
with the troubles which agitated the Calvary 
Baptist Church of this city, of which he and 
his parents were members, during the latter 
part of 1878, and early in 1879. 

The pastor was receiving a salary of 
three thousand dollars a year; but the Trus- 
tees having been unable to provide a regular 
income sufficient to pay this sum, with other 
necessary expenses, seriously considered the 
necessity of its reduction. 

While attending an International Sun- 
day School Convention in Atlanta, Ga., in 
April, 1878, I received a letter from my son, 
dated Washington, April 18, 1878, containing 
the following: 

"At the church business meeting last 
night, about sixty were present. In your 
absence I was chosen clerk pro tern. 

"The Chairman of Trustees reported 
that, though the pastor had offered to give 
the church $41.67 per month (period not sta- 
ted), the committee still thought it but right 
to report the same as heretofore, viz.: $2,500 
to be the salary of pastor from 1st prox. 



3+ 



A neces- 
sity. 



Report. 



ttf 



* 



* 



232 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Argu- 
ments 
against. 



Argu- 
ments for 



* 



"The correspondence of the committee 
with the pastor was read, and the question 
was thus fairly opened. 

"The arguments against adopting the 
report were — 

"1. Under the contract we had no right 
to cut down the salary. 

"2. That the proposed contribution by 
the pastor was equivalent to $500 a year; 
hence it was just what the proposed reduc- 
tion contemplated. 

"3. That it was a magnanimous offer 
on the part of the pastor. 

"4. To reduce the salary, would be to 
say the pastor was worth but $2,500. 

"5. That the church was never in so 
prosperous a condition financially as now; 
and if the $500 was taken, it should be paid 
back as a Christmas gift. 

"The arguments in favor of the report 
were — 

"1. That if we continued the salary at 
#3,000, nominally, and paid but $2,500, we 
should place ourselves in a false position 
before the world. 

"2. That $41.07 per month was not the 
same as $500 per year, as the pastor could 



*& 



■w 



CHURCH TROUBLES. 



233 



discontinue it at any time — in two, three, 
or six months. 

"3. That the church should not become 
a pensioner on the pastor. 

* ' 4. That arguments one and five of the 
other side were not true, and three was 
doubtful. 

"A substitute for the report was of- 
fered, continuing the salary at $3,000, and 
accepting the pastor's offer of $41.67 per 
month. 

•'The substitute was sustained by a vote 
of 33 to 9. The clerk, pro tern., was one of 
the nine. I think these were all that stood 
up when the vote was taken." 

Several members of the church were so 
aggrieved by this action, that they surren- 
dered their pews, and a few took letters of 
dismission. 

The agitation continued several weeks, 
when charges were preferred against several 
members, including my son. 

He had not concealed his disappointment 
at the action referred to in his letter above, 
and had not hesitated to express his opinion 
that it was not honest for a church to assume 

29 



* 



Amend- 
ment. 



■^ 



* 



234 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



•© 



Accusa- 
tion. 



Exonera- 
ted. 



* 



such a position, and not honest in the pastor 
to be a party to it. 

He was formally charged with having 
said the pastor was dishonest, and resolu- 
tions for his expulsion from the church were 
presented. 

At the trial before the church, Will ap- 
peared with his defence in writing. A friend 
had borrowed the manuscript before the meet- 
ing, and, without consulting him, had met 
several members of the church who were in 
sympathy with the prosecutors, and read to 
them his paper. 

As Will was about to proceed to read his 
defence, on the night of the trial, a brother 
who had heard the contents of the paper, 
suggested that if the accused would omit 
reading all his defence, except the last one 
or two paragraphs, he thought the church 
would be ready to act favorably on his case. 

Will complied with the suggestion, and 
after taking his seat a resolution, exoner- 
ating him from any blame worthy of church 
discipline, was adopted. 

The following is the paper he had pre- 
pared, but which, for the reasons above, was 
not read : 



* 



■* 



CHURCH TROUBLES. 



235 



Dear Brethren and Sisters 
of the Calvary Baptist Church — 

On Sunday, January 12, 1879, immedi- 
ately after Sunday School, I was waited upon 
by two deacons, and informed that charges 
had been made against me; was told what 
the charges were, and the brethren asked (I 
quote their words), "Will you meet us some 
time to-morrow?" 

Fearing misunderstandings and mis- 
takes, I requested that our communications 
be had in writing, and that I be furnished a 
copy of the charges, with the names of my 
accusers. ■ 

Tuesday I received an envelope, directed 
to me, containing an anonymous communi- 
cation, addressed to the deacons of the Cal- 
vary Baptist Church. 

The next day, Wednesday, about seven 
o'clock in the evening, I received official in- 
formation from the deacons that the "matter 
concerning the charges preferred against you 
[me] would be submitted to the church this 
evening" — in about half an hour from its 
receipt by me. 

I have noted these few facts, so that 
you might have a fair understanding of 



Charges. 



Official in- 
formation. 



* 



*■ 



* 



2M 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Answer. 



Salary 
question. 



>2<- 



the progress of my case before it reached 
you. 

The gist of the accusations made against 
me is, that I have questioned the honesty of 
the pastor. 

That I have so done, except in regard 
to his conduct in a single instance, I most 
emphatically deny; but I will answer the 
charges separately, and in conclusion will 
attempt to explain what prompted my re- 
marks. 

The first charge, that I had said, "I 
have no confidence whatever in the honesty 
of the pastor," is not a fair statement of my 
remark, in that it does not recite the circum- 
stances under which it was made. 

The unqualified statement, as quoted, I 
never uttered. The circumstances were as 
follows : 

I had met one of the brethren on the 
street; we walked together until reaching 
his house, when I was invited in. In the 
course of our conversation, the conduct of 
the pastor in regard to the salary question 
was alluded to. The brother expressed his 
views, and I mine. I characterized that 
conduct as wanting in openness, squareness, 



* 



CHURCH TROUBLES. 



* 



:>37 



frankness, and honesty; and in that connec- 
tion, and referring to that alone, the remark 
charged was made. 

Some time after this conversation, I con- 
cluded to go to the pastor and explain my 
feelings to him. I went twice to his study, 
but he was out each time. Soon after I met 
him at the bank, when I explained, at length, 
why I thought as I did. My father was 
present at that interview. 

At the business meeting in April, during 
the discussion of the subject, I used lan- 
guage nearly tantamount to this, to which 
no exception whatever was taken; a strange 
circumstance, if this opinion was such heresy 
as my five anonymous accusers would now 
have you think. 

The brother with whom I conversed, ap- 
peared to understand, at the time, the mean- 
ing and bearing of the words I used. The 
conversation was of a private nature, and I 
naturally considered that it was only neces- 
sary for me to make myself clear to him. I 
had no thought that my words would be 
repeated, and much less, so repeated as to 
give an impression different from that in- 
tended — for in every quotation of them that 



*■ 



Explana- 
tion. 



Wrong 
impres- 
sion. 



* 



* 



238 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Absurdity 



has reached my ears, only a portion of the 
conversation, and that, the portion rehearsed 
in the accusations, was repeated. 

I submit that it is not right thus to sep- 
arate a clause from its proper modifications 
and connections, and report it as an unqual- 
ified statement. If this is proper, King Da- 
vid must be charged with teaching "There 
is no God," though the whole passage says, 
"The fool saith in his heart, there is no 
God;" and in like manner, we might with 
as much propriety charge our Savior with 
teaching the heathenish doctrine of "an eye 
for an eye," &c, for he certainly did say 
that; though if we take what follows, we 
find his meaning just the contrary. 

A man's words must of course be taken 
in their entirety. If the remark charged had 
been made in a general conversation, regard- 
ing Mr. Mason's moral character, it might be 
proper to introduce it here stripped of its 
connections; but when it was so intimately 
connected with what preceded, in fact only 
a conclusion in that one case, certainly it is 
but christian and "honest" that the circum- 
stances under which the remark was made, 
should always accompany its repetition. 



Connec- 
tion of 
thought. 



►£<• 



-* 



*■ 



CHURCH TROUBLES. 



* 



239 



The second remark charged, that I "did 
not blame Mr. Fox for leaving the church; 
he dont want to belong to a church where 
the pastor is dishonest," was spoken just 
after the business meeting, nearly a year 
ago. in answer to a question by a lady, and 
after expressing my opinion so emphatically 
in the meeting. I cannot believe that any but 
wilful misconstruction would apply my ex- 
pression otherwise than to the conduct of the 
pastor at that time. 

In conclusion, I will endeavor to state 
briefly my reasons for the opinions held on 
this question. 

My Bible teaches that deception should 
be avoided as distasteful to God. 

To my mind, it was a species of decep- 
tion, when the pastor would have credit for 
receiving $3,000 for his services, when he 
knew he, at the end of the year, would actu- 
ally have received but $2,500. 

To me it is the same in principle if we 
had raised the salary to $10,000, and allowed 
a reimbursement of $7,500; and to me this 
would not have been any more of a decep- 
tion. 

Again, in 1 Thess., v: 22. we are told to 



Wilful 
miscon- 
struction 



Reasons 
for opin- 
ions. 



*■ 



* 



* 



MO 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



The weak- 
er con- 
science. 



1 



"abstain from all appearance of evil." Now 
even if the pastor's alternative was right in 
itself, the fact that others in the church 
thought it wrong, and that business men, 
not in the church, considered it a deception, 
should convince an honest mind that the 
proposition had at least the "appearance of 
evil;" and I reasoned, perhaps incorrectly, 
that a mind bent on doing the Master's will 
would be eager to change a course so at 
variance with the Divine teaching. 

These thoughts, among others, led me to 
the opinions I held and expressed under the 
circumstances herein before set forth; and 
these convictions I still hold, not ignoring 
the consciences of my brethren who see no 
moral principle involved, any more than did 
Paul consider his conscience ignored when 
he declined eating meat because it was an 
offence to some of his brethren. 

But in reviewing in my mind the whole 
subject; the harsh construction put upon my 
words; the unkind remarks they have elicit- 
ed; charging me with malice, and with wan- 
tonly endeavoring to injure, &c, &c, feel- 
ings I never have felt toward the pastor, I 
cannot but regard the expression of my opin- 



* 



&• 



+R 



CHURCH TROUBLES. 



241 



ions as injudicious and ill-advised, and I 
regret having given utterance to them; for 
I have not yet reached that higher plane 
where mistakes may not be made, and where 
life is but a faultless reflection of that one 
life — the promise of the past, the blessing of 
the present, and the hope of the future. 

W. S. Stickney. 



This unworthy attempt to crush a young 
man, whose every word, thought, and action 
were as loyal to the church and the cause of 
Christ as he was capable of making them, 
who endeavored to make his conduct con- 
form to the high standard of Holy Writ, 
though it might have discouraged many an 
older christian, did not in the least shake 
his confidence or weaken 'his faith in the 
truth and reality of the religion he pro- 
fessed. His convictions were a part of him- 
self. I believe he would have submitted to a 
martyr's fate rather than renounce them or 
betray his Master. 

In all this there was no wilful obstinacy 
or unreasoning bigotry. He was willing to 
reason upon any subject, but must be con- 

30 



Expres- 
sion inju- 
dicious. 



Confi- 
dence in 
religion 
unshaken. 



*■ 



* 



* 



242 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



"* 



The wrong- 
keenly felt 



Nobility of 
bearing-. 



* 



vinced of error before he could surrender his 
convictions. 

He felt most keenly the great injustice 
done him by this attempt to stigmatize his 
character, and repress if not destroy his use- 
fulness, sometimes referring to it with quiv- 
ering lip and tremulous voice. Though the 
provocation had been so great, he never cher- 
ished anger or feelings of revenge towards 
any of his brethren — saying, on one occa- 
sion when alluding to them, "but — let us not 
judge. " 

The nobility of his bearing throughout 
this, his first taste of the contradictions of 
the world, is worthy of imitation. Instead 
of defying his accusers to do their worst, he 
calmly prepares his plea — a plea which the 
judgment of every disinterested man will 
accept as conclusive of innocence of the 
wrong with which he was charged. Then, 
judging himself by the same interpretation 
of the exhortation to "avoid every appear- 
ance of evil," which he applied to the con- 
duct of others, he regrets the use of words 
which might seem evil. But his magna- 
nimity goes even beyond this. He is willing 
to omit the major part of his plea — the part 



* 



*■ 



* 



CHURCH TROUBLES. 



243 



of all parts to which most men would tena- 
ciously cling — and express sorrow that he 
had used words which had been misunder- 
stood. If such a spirit as this were more 
common, there would be greater unity in the 
churches of Christ, and the prayer of our 
Savior answered — "'That they may be one 
even as we are one." 



*■ 



# 



fiEH ^ — s 



CHAPTER VI. 



BEGINNING OF PROFESSIONAL LIFE. 



Diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. 

— Romans, xii: n. 

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. 

— EPHESIANS, VI: 7. 



|J| i gj| 



'*■ 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



24? 



j Tri uT AVING completed his studies in the 



Law- School, Will was anxious to be 
employed. 

The city of Des Moines, Iowa, had been 
recommended as an inviting field for a young- 
lawyer, but his parents did not encourage a 
settlement so far from home. 

He looked about in Washington for a 
suitable opening, but found none that was in 
all respects congenial. At length he was 
received into a law office, not as a partner, 
but for the purpose of obtaining a more 
practical knowledge of the profession, in re- 
turn re'ndering the firm what useful service 
he could. 

He had the privilege of attending to any 
professional business that might come to him 
individually. By the influence of his friends 
in various parts of the country, he was en- 
trusted with quite a number of cases — prin- 
cipally claims before the Departments. He 
was successful in the prosecution of several; 
some of which involved between one and 
two thousand dollars. He manifested the 
same zeal here as every where, devoting 
himself zealously to the business committed 
to him. 



*■ 



Enters 
law office. 



Entrusted 
with cases 



+±* 



* 



75 



248 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Estimate 

of his 
character. 



He was also energetic and faithful to the 
interests of the firm, whose good opinion he 
was determined to maintain by untiring in- 
dustry, fidelity, and rigid integrity. 

Since his death, Mr. Johnston, one of the 
members of the firm, in a letter of sympathy 
to the parents, says: 

"We have both been much impressed, 
during our association with your son, not 
only with his quick intellect and sound judg- 
ment, but with the uprightness of his char- 
acter; and we predicted for him a successful 
life as a lawyer, and a high reputation as a 
man. 

"His thorough methods of attending to 
the confidential matters entrusted by us to 
him, satisfied us of his capacity as a man of 
affairs, and his equable temper and gentle 
manners have produced a genuine sorrow at 
his loss. His high character as a student 
gave ample evidence of his high character as 
a son." 

He also found time to give much thought 
to the interests of the church and Sunday 
Schools, esteeming it his highest pleasure to 



■* 



-I< 



AT HOME. 



■►5 



249 



contribute, according to his ability, to their 
prosperity and usefulness. Nothing but ab- 
solute necessity prevented his attendance 
upon these services; always considering it a 
loss if compelled to be absent. 

Having been urged to transfer his con- 
nection with the Kendall Mission to the Cal- 
vary Mission School, he consented, and ac- 
cepted the office of Superintendent of the 
latter, to which he was first elected Dec. 23, 
1877. He was again chosen to fill the posi- 
tion in 1878 and 1879. 

In his pocket he carried the name and 
address of each of the four or five hundred 
scholars and teachers, ready at all times to 
minister to them in cases of sickness, or dis- 
tress of any kind. 

Often he has come home after fatiguing 
duties at his office, and without stopping for 
dinner, has started upon a visiting tour to 
the scholars or their parents, to contribute to 
their comfort or relief. These labors were 
not always confined to cases of physical 
want. He was as deeply solicitous for their 
spiritual as their temporal welfare. He en- 
couraged them in their religious life, pro- 
vided company to and from church at night, 

31 



Devotion 
to church. 



X 



Care of 
sick and 
needy. 



T< 



*■ 



250 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Happy in 
conferring 
happiness. 



Faith and 
works. 



* 



went out of his way to invite them to 
the meetings, conversed with them on per- 
sonal religion, and in every proper way 
sought to lead them to a nobler and higher 
life. 

This was no perfunctory or professional 
service for him. His sympathy with his 
scholars and their families in all their trials, 
was sincere. He experienced real happiness 
in ministering to their happiness. In his 
life he beautifully illustrated the missionary 
spirit which he considered essential to all 
true christians. To him faith and works 
were inseparable, and his life was a faithful 
exponent of his doctrine. 

Hopeful and earnest himself, he sought 
to inspire others with courage manfully to 
fight life's battles, and endure with christian 
resignation its inevitable trials. 

During the summer of 1879 the family 
made their accustomed visit north, to pass 
the months of July and August. Having 
been called west on Indian business, I wrote 
Mrs. Stickney to visit Watch Hill and Mar- 
tha's Vineyard for a couple of weeks, and 
then meet me at Saratoga, our usual summer 
resort. 



* 



*■ 



AT HOME. 



+R 



251 



In Chicago I received a letter from Will, 
written at New York, July 23, saying — 



"Mother and I left W. this a. m. for 
Watch Hill. Every thing quiet in Washing- 
ton. Church meetings are fairly attended. 
A good congregation present last Sunday 
night; the singing was excellent, and the 
sermon very good. S. S. keeps up well, con- 
sidering the hot weather; 219 last Sunday, 
220 week before; 192 at chapel. Rhodie Bou- 
cher [one of his scholars] I was glad to see 
present last Sunday. She has been living on 
the Island; hence her non-attendance. 

"We expect to leave here to-morrow for 
Watch Hill, and go from there to Martha's 
Vineyard to attend the meetings. They 
have a grand programme for this year. 

"I am very glad we have turned our 
backs on Washington for a time. The heat 
affects mother, and I find myself not quite so 
strong as I supposed; but the invigorating 
influences of the salt air and water will, I 
hope, restore us to our usual health. When 
do you think of joining us? Better meet us 
the loth prox. at Saratoga, where I hope to 
have a good long visit." 



*■ 



* 



* 



252 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Watch 
Hill. 



Martha's 
Vineyard. 



Feast for 
an epicure 



Angel vis- 
itation. 



Dessert. 



►fr 



A few days were passed pleasantly at 
Watch Hill, when the travelers proceeded to 
Martha's Vineyard, as narrated in the fol- 
lowing letter: 

Wesley House, Martha's Vineyard, 

Monday, Aug. 11, 1879. 
My dear Father — 

How I wish you were here to enjoy with 
us the attractions of this place. 

Yesterday was a feast for an epicure. 
In the morning Dr. Evarts preached on the 
place and importance of the ordinances in 
religion, a most able exposition of our de- 
nominational views. As the sermon is to be 
printed, I will not attempt an abstract. 

In the p. m. Dr. E. G. Taylor gave us a 
sermon on Angel visitation; a little in ad- 
vance of modern thought, but calculated to 
do good; and I was glad to hear it. 

And last came the dessert, by Mr. Gif- 
ford, of Warren Ave. Church, Boston. Mr. 
G. was in the seminary, while I was at col- 
lege — an old acquaintance. The sermon, on 
the Holy Spirit, was a poem in prose. I 
wish you could have heard it. Though not 
quite so full of logic and metaphysics as Dr. 



*■ 



* 



AT HOME. 



'Zoo 



L.. he is much more graceful, and his style 
more chaste. 

Saturday, had the pleasure of meeting 
Dr. Taylor, who regretted your absence. 

If present arrangements are carried out, 
we will leave here Friday, and hops to meet 
you at Saratoga Saturday p. m. 

Affectionately, Willie. 

We met in Saratoga at the time desig- 
nated, and remained till about the middle of 
September. The days were spent chiefly in 
drinking the sparkling waters; listening to 
the music by the various bands; attending 
the daily prayer meetings; playing croquet; 
visiting and receiving visits; riding and 
walking; reading and writing; and so re- 
gaining health and strength for future use. 

About the middle of September we all 
went to visit our friends in Bangor. 

Will, anxious to be home, preceded us to 
Washington. On the 30th of September he 
writes: "At the chapel 203 present. The su- 
perintendent conducted the review exercises 
without assistance; had a good time. Last 
night was the children's service; great suc- 
cess; room full; a good deal of interest. Mrs. 



«■ 



Saratog*a. 



At work 
again. 



tf 



* 



254 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



A new 

pastor. 



©■ 



Jones, with the rest of us, made the armor 
[the Christian Armor being one of the exer- 
cises], and the young soldier (Charlie Ma- 
gruder) looked very fine in his military dress. 
Mr. Fuller, of Iowa, who preached for us in 
the morning, was present and made a splen- 
did address. Programme inclosed." 

At home things moved along as usual. 
In December, 1879, the pulpit of the Cal- 
vary Baptist Church having been vacant 
several months, the Rev. Samuel H. Greene, 
of Cazenovia, N. Y., was elected pastor. 
He accepted the position, and immediately 
religious matters assumed a new and live- 
ly interest. A vigorous impulse was given 
to all our religious work; meetings for 
" young ladies" and "children," " young- 
men " and "young people," were well at- 
tended and sustained; conversions from the 
Sunday Schools were frequent; the church 
was united, happy, and prosperous. 

The Home and Mission Schools had each 
their usual celebration at Christmas. 

At the chapel the room was crowded, 
and the occasion was intensely interesting to 
all present. The scholars, whose names 



# 



*■ 



AT HOME. 



* 



255 



were on the ''Roll of. Honor," received a 
present from the superintendent, who was 
never more happy than on that occasion. 
His modesty of manners, considerate treat- 
ment of all, generosity in dispensing gifts, 
frequent visits to the homes of his scholars, 
unselfish and unremitting devotion to the 
work, gave him a hold upon the affections 
of his school which death alone could sun- 
der. 

It was while engaged so earnestly in 
striving to inculcate in the hearts of these 
his young parishioners a love of those prin- 
ciples and doctrines of the Bible in which 
his soul took such delight, that he began to 
question within himself whether, after all, 
he was not more useful and more happy in 
this work than in attending to the duties of 
his profession. 

He soon entertained serious misgivings 
on this subject, and debated the question of 
abandoning his law, and preparing himself, 
by a course of theological study, for the 
ministry. He expressed himself as willing 
to do just what the Master would have 
him, and was only concerned to know His 
will. 



>fr 



Roll of 
honor. 



A faithful 
superin- 
tendent. 



Thoughts 

of the 
ministry. 



« 



o 



26(\ 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



A helper. 



Ill health. 



*■ 



His love for the souls of the young, 
especially, was daily becoming- deeper and 
more manifest. To him many confided their 
religious experience, gladly accepting his 
counsel and advice. The pastor found in 
him a ready and constant friend and brother, 
upon whom he could always depend to aid in 
whatever enterprise might be suggested for 
the good of the church. 

"Where can I be the most useful to my 
fellow- men?" had become with him the par- 
amount question. Had he foreseen the end 
of his earthly career to be so near, he could 
hardly have employed his time more profit- 
ably and more devotedly to the cause of the 
Lord than he did. 

Notwithstanding all his activities in the 
church and Sunday Schools, his health was 
not good, and he was not unfrequently com- 
pelled to stop entirely and recuperate. 



* 




See page 263 



*■ 



CHAPTER VII. 



SECOND UTE COMMISSION. 



And the chiefs raade answer, saying: 

" We have listened to your message, 

We have heard your words of wisdom, 

We will think on what you tell us. 

It is well for us, oh brothers, 

That you came so far to see us."— LONGFELLOW, 



,j, % 



®- 



I7TE COMMISSION. 



259 



■W 




a S Congress had passed a bill at its last 
o^ session for the appointment of another 
Special Commission to the Utes of Colorado, 
Will thought he saw in this a most favorable 
opportunity for him to be of service to his 
Government, and to seek that recreation and 
change of which he so much felt the need. 

Before making the application for the 
appointment, we discussed the question fully 
and deliberately. Will referred to the great 
benefit derived from his previous trip, which 
was of a similar character, and to the same 
country, as the one now proposed. His for- 
mer experience would greatly aid him in 
this, and he would come back invigorated 
for the winter's work at the church and 
Sunday School. 

His cousin, Charles Stickney, of nearly 
his own age, from Bangor, Maine, was visit- 
ing the family at this time. Will felt a 
deep interest in his cousin, who was in 
poor health, having had several hemorrha- 
ges, and who was hoping some way would 
open for him to go west, where, he was led 
to believe, he might hopefully look for re- 
covery. 

These considerations prevailed, and after 



Special 
Commis- 
sion. 



Benefit to 
he derived 



•ar 



* 



* 



■8< 



260 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Position 
obtained, 



Peculiai' 
peril not 
anticipa- 
ted. 



Bonds. 



T 



the passage of the bill, application was made 
to the Hon. Carl Schurz, Secretary of the 
Interior, for the position of Secretary and 
Disbursing Officer, which was at once cheer- 
fully granted. 

It was known the duties of his office 
would be arduous, and the time protracted, 
perhaps for five or six months, but never a 
doubt or misgiving entered the minds of his 
parents that the expedition involved peculiar 
peril, or greater hardship, than had been 
experienced by the previous Commission. 

The following gentlemen were appointed 
by the Secretary of the Interior to constitute 
the Commission: Messrs. G. W. Manypenny, 
A. B. Meacham, Otto Myers, J. B. Bowman, 
and J. J. Russell. The two former my son 
had met a few times; the others were stran- 
gers to him. 

As one of the duties of the Secretary of 
the Commission would be the disbursement 
of about seventy- five thousand dollars to the 
Indians*, the law required of him a bond. 
This was given in the sum of fifty thousand 
dollars. 

The Commissioners visited Washington, 
had an interview with the Secretary, and 



■* 



* 



UTE COMMISSION, 



* 



261 



received their instructions. A meeting of 
the Commission was appointed at Denver 
the last of June. 

I was present with my son as he called 
to bid the Secretary "Good-bye," Tuesday 
morning, June 22d. We met Messrs. Many- 
penny and Meacham there. I shook them 
by the hand, and said to them, in the pres- 
ence and hearing of my son, "I expect you 
to take good care of my boy;" to which both 
responded, they certainly would. 

Last woeds to his beloved Sunday School. 

Just before the close of the Calvary Mis- 
sion Sunday School, the Sunday before his 
departure, the superintendent feelingly allu- 
ded to his anticipated absence for several 
months. 

Among his papers were found the fol- 
lowing "notes" of what he proposed to say 
to the School: 



"Your teachers have wisely elected Mr. 
Taylor, who will more than fill my place in 
my absence. I trust you will all sustain 
him; be prompt and orderly; let each one 
try to surpass the other in doing what is 



©■ 



* 



* 



* 



!G2 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Be faithful 



Visit the 
scholars. 



right. Do not neglect the school, even if 
the weather is hot and some of the teachers 
are absent. Be proud enough of your school 
to be present every Sunday. 

"I expect and hope the building of the 
new chapel will be commenced this summer. 
You must help every way in your power, 
and when fall comes let every class raise 
some money, that each one of you may have 
at least one brick in it. I want you to be 
interested here — willing to do without some 
things, if necessary, for the sake of your 
chapel. 

" Teachers, thanks for work done. I 
commit the work to your hands and hearts 
during the days that are to come. Be faith- 
ful to your trust. Remember the object of 
each day's work is to lead some soul nearer 
the Master. Therefore, pray much; visit 
much. If your scholars are absent a single 
Sunday, I beg of you, call and see them; no 
matter if you know the reason; go to the 
house; go in and stop a little while, and 
manifest your interest. Be enthusiastic in 
your work; prompt; know your lessons; be 
bright and cheerful — enthusiasm is the fire to 
kindle zeal in others. Pray without ceasing." 



* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



20: 



Then, according for his custom, he lead 
the school in a short, earnest prayer, in 
which he expressed the hope that, if they 
met no more on earth, they might, ''every 
scholar and teacher, without a single excep- 
tion, meet around the Great White Throne 
in heaven.'* 

The engraving at the beginning of this 
chapter represents my son as he appeared 
every Sunday afternoon at the Calvary Mis- 
sion School, with his singing book in one 
hand, the other resting upon the desk, wait- 
ing for the school to come to order. 

This position was a signal for silence, 
and without uttering a word, a few moments 
sufficed for that perfect stillness which al- 
ways preceded the commencement of the 
exercises. 

The slightly- raised platform, desk, and 
piano are faithful copies, and present a scene 
familiar to many who will peruse these pa- 
ges — a scene hallowed by associations that 
time will only render more tender and sacred 
in the hearts of his devoted teachers and 
scholars. 



►fr 



At the "Young People's" meeting, the 



■* 



*■ 



2H 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Young 
people's 
meeting. 



(;ood-oye. 



*■ 



night of his departure, Will was present, as 
usual, leading the music by playing on the 
piano. He spoke seriously and earnestly to 
the two or three hundred young people pres- 
ent, exhorting them to be faithful in all their 
duties; zealous in their work; to honor their 
Master by precept and example, and to labor 
for the salvation of souls. He bade them an 
affectionate "Good-bye," expecting to be ab- 
sent perhaps till Christmas. 

He returned from the church to the 
house, kissed his mother "Good-bye," shook 
hands with his friends who were present, not 
omitting the servants, and then, accompa- 
nied by his particular friend and assistant S. 
S. superintendent Taylor and myself, with 
his cousin Charlie, proceeded to the Balti- 
more and Potomac depot. 

On the way we rode to the city Post 
Office, where I purchased one hundred postal 
cards, and gave half to each of the boys, 
with an injunction to return every one in 
due time. 

It had been a custom with Will from his 
earliest infancy to kiss his parents "Good- 
night" before retiring to bed. This habit he 
never gave up. To strangers it may have 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



265 



looked odd to see a son; as tall as his father, 
kissing him "Good -night" as he would leave 
to go to bed. For this Will made no apolo- 
gies nor explanation. He had always done 
so, and he was never ashamed to do so. It 
was also his custom, on leaving home, or 
returning after an absence, to salute his 
father, as well as his mother, with a kiss. 
So, in the car, on that eventful Tuesday 
night, he gave his father a cordial shake of 
the hand, a hearty kiss, and tender "Good- 
bye," and left at 10:30 for his long journey 
to Colorado. 

Postals were received from Altoona the 
next day: "All well. Safe journey, so far. 
Beautiful morning." From "on the cars 
just east of Richmond, Ind., where we ex- 
pect to take supper: Very warm day. Some 
tired, and very dusty. Country beautiful: 
no signs of army worm; wheat being har- 
vested; corn from one to three feet high. 
Have been reading instructions. Think we 
can save time by going first to Southern 
Utes. However, more anon." 



* 



No apolo- 
gies. 



A final 
"Good- 
bye." 



* 



*■ 



266 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Father of 

Waters. 



Ignacio 
first. 



* 



Our next is a letter, as follows; 

Lindell Hotel, 
St. Louis, June 24, 1880. 
My dear Father — 

This morning at eight, we crossed the 
"Father of Waters," and at present are com- 
fortably ensconced in the hotel above. The 
ride here was comfortable, and most of the 
way interesting. The Cincinnati Conven- 
tion formed the general topic of conversa- 
tion, and the guesses were as various as 
they were numerous. The announcement 
of the nominees at the hotel this noon cre- 
ated a little enthusiasm, but not much. 

Dr. Park [his dentist friend] has given 
me two sittings to-day, and wishes two 
more. 

Hope to leave for Kansas City and Den- 
ver to-morrow p. m. 

Went down to the sub -Treasury this 
afternoon. My draft not yet received. 

In reading the instructions, it seems as 
if considerable time could be saved by visit- 
ing Ignacio first. Then some of the Com'n 
could go and see Ouray and the White Riv- 
ers (now near Ouray), while one or two of 



* 



■*• 



ITTE COMMISSION. 



^ 



2<>7 



us could visit the Uintahs. Then, when the 
agreement was signed by all, the Commis- 
sion would be near the White Rivers, and 
could secure, or attempt to secure, their im- 
mediate removal to the Uintah country, and 
the delivery of the criminals — the next step 
after the agreement is signed. 

If the Com'n go to the Ouray and White- 
River Utes first, and then to the southern 
country, they would have to retrace their 
steps to come again to the White River Utes, 
to see about their removal. 

I think we had all better go to the south- 
ern country, as the influence of numbers will 
undoubtedly be needed there, and then one 
of the Com'n and myself can do all the work 
necessary with the Uintahs. 

I write thus fully, for the Secretary may 
receive a dispatch from the Com'n, asking 
permission to go south first, and I would 
like to have you able to give him some of 
the reasons. 

My way will save about six days — a 
desideratum, when the time is so limited. 

I do not think the Uintahs will require 
more than a representation of the Com'n 
before signing the agreement, and, while 



Southern 
country. 



* 



■* 



268 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Return of 
prisoners. 



Out on the 
prairie. 



►fr 



one or two of us are on that business, the 
remainder will have all the more time to 
labor for the return of the prisoners — desid- 
eratum No. 2. 

Will keep you advised. 

Love to mother. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 

We next hear from him by postal: 

On the cars Mo. Pacif., six or eight miles 
from Kansas City, 

Saturday, June 26, 1880. 

Pleasant ride last night; just enough 
rain to settle the dust. This a. m. we both 
feel pretty well — in readiness for breakfast. 

Yesterday afternoon Dr. Park took us 
through some of the pleasant drives about 
St. Louis. Had a delightful time. 

Love to mother. Aff'y, Will. 

"Wallace" for breakfast Sunday, a. m., 
"way out on the prairies," or "plains" would 
be more accurate. Had a good night. Each 
of us feels pretty comfortable. Weather cool 
and delightful. Colonel Manypenny on this 
train. Aff'y, W. 



* 



& 



UTE COMMISSION. 



2(59 



"Denver,. June 27, 1880. 

Sunday night. 
Reached here at 4:30 this p. m. Heavy rain. 
Both quite well, considering the long jour- 
ney. No Commissioners here, except Col. 
Manypenny." 

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Will 
was constantly occupied in purchasing 3,300 
pounds of camp supplies, outfit, &c, prepar- 
atory to their long journey in the wilderness. 
Wednesday he sends the following postal: 

June 30, '80. Denver. 

Very busy, and very tired. I leave here 
to-morrow for Alamosa to look after bag- 
gage. Commissioners will follow next day. 
Expect to meet Indians Thursday. Have so 
telegraphed them. Charlie will not go on 
this trip. Dr. Denison thinks he had better 
become a little more acclimated. Please 
send me copy of the treaty of '68, also one 
of '72. 

Love to mother. Aff'y, Will. 



8+ 



Purchas- 
ing sup- 
plies. 



« 



* 



* 



270 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Long ride. 



* 



The next information, is the following 
letter: 

Hot Springs, Colorado, 

Near Wagon Wheel Gap, 

Sunday, July 4, 1880. 
My dear Mother — 

To-day I will write you something of 
the trip so far. Though not my practice 
to write Sundays, think I can employ part 
of my time to - day better this way than any 
other. 

The ride to Denver you have heard 
about. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 
were spent in buying the outfit. Thursday 
went to Alamosa with Col. Meacham; a long 
and tiresome ride. 

[Alamosa is fourteen hours, by rail, from 
Denver, by the Denver and Rio Grande R. 
R., and the terminus of the road.] 

Friday I completed the outfit at A. and 
went back to Fort Garland [about 30 miles] 
to look after some things left there two years 
ago. Returned with the supplies bought at 
Denver, and made arrangements for the 
freight to leave Saturday morning. 

Friday p. m. Col, Manypenny and Mr. 



* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



■* 



271 



Russell came, and yesterday p. m. we all left 
in the coach for this place. The ride for the 
first thirty miles was very dusty, though the 
roads were smooth. 

The Country may have magnificent pos- 
sibilities; we may yet see the orange and 
the palm, beautiful in foliage, and stately 
in shape, growing in tropical luxuriance 
through the San Luis Park, but at present 
the sage - brush and grease - wood vie with 
each other, and over, and under, and about 
every thing is the alkali dust, so fine and 
disagreeable. 

The company in the coach was very in- 
teresting. Beside ourselves, were three Cor- 
nish miners and a Mexican ranchman, Senor 
Antonio. The miners were unusually intel- 
ligent. First, they described their sports in 
England; then mining at Lake Superior and 
Brazil, and finally, began to talk about the 
Bible. Their queer pronunciation and pecu- 
liar idiom were to me very fascinating. They 
did not seem to have any objective — "Do 
you know he?" or, "Did you see they?" was 
the usual form. When they discussed Bible 
truths, repeating unusual passages, I felt 
they had learned to mine for richer ores than 



Possibili- 
ties. 



Cornish 
miners. 



* 



Ha? 



>fr 



•372 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Good kind 
of immi- 
gration. 



A.u Satole. 



*■ 



silver or gold, and their treasure was already 
great. 

Never, I think, have I traveled all day 
with any other three men, rough or polished, 
when I have not heard a single objectionable 
word, or even hint. I was surprised and 
gratified at the style of these men. That 
kind of immigration will not hurt us; and if 
their American cousins would take a few 
lessons from them, they would be all the 
better for their coming. 

The Senor may have done a deal of 
thinking, like the owl the Irishman bought 
for a parrot, but he did not say much. 

At Del Forte we took dinner at two 
o'clock; thence the scenery improved, and, 
about six, the rocky sides of the mountain 
loomed up to very great heights. I cannot 
describe the view to you. Imagine an Au Sa- 
ble chasm, one -fourth of a mile wide, and 
three times as high, a valley of pines and the 
jumping, dashing Rio Grande, with the road 
first by the side of the mountain, and then 
skirting the river, the mountains showing 
their bare, steep sides so high "one has to 
look twice " to see the top. It was grand — 
magnificent! and I could not but feel it was 



* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



(6 



all made for us, that, we might use them 
to the glory of the Creator. Perhaps the 
Psalmist had some such display of God's 
works in mind, when he asks, "What is 
man?" 

At seven o'clock we reached the Gap. 
The Col's stopped at the hotel there, Mr. 
Russell and I came up here, two miles, and 
found the Saratoga, may be, of the future — 
three hot springs, about one hundred and 
ninety degrees, almost exactly like the Ar- 
kansas springs, and two cold, with just a 
little gas, some iron, and considerable mag- 
nesia; these are all I could taste. The hot 
springs have soda, sulphur, and iron. 

Last night, after a trout supper, Mr. Rus- 
sell and I took a grand bath in a tub twenty 
feet square by four and a half deep. 

To-day we have been quietly resting, 
preparatory to another week's hard work. 

The Commissioners are now all in the 
State, and I expect to have a very pleasant 
time with them. We hope to be at the 
agency Wednesday. 

Charlie did not come along. He called 
on Dr. Denison, author of the "Rocky Moun- 
tain Health Resorts," and the Dr. thought the 



What is 

man? 



Trout and 
a oath. 



%+ 



* 



274 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Hopes. 



A new 
question. 



►fr 



long ride, so soon after his illness, with the 
high altitudes, would be too much for him 
for two or three weeks. I have understood, 
since, that the Dr. thinks he can be entirely 
cured in four years. Expect he will accom- 
pany me on the next trip, when we come to 
pay the annuities. 

Information respecting the Indians is 
very encouraging. Hope they will sign the 
agreement promptly, and let us get to the 
real work of the summer. 

Hope Taylor is getting along well with 
the school. I believe he expected to be ab- 
sent to-day. Wish I might look in on you 
and it. 

Keep me posted, please, as to what you 
are all doing. 

Please ask father, if he has not already 
done so, to send me the treaty of 1868. A 
new question has arisen, and I think we will 
need it. 

How did the pic-nic come off? Thought 
of you at the time. Hope every thing passed 
off satisfactorily. 

Love to father and all inquiring friends. 
Affectionately, your son 

Will S. Stickney. 



* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



275 



Los Pinos Indian Agency, 

Thursday, July 8, 1880. 
My dear Father — 

Col. Manypenny and I reached this place 
yesterday about noon. Col. Meacham was 
quite sick at Indian Creek (fifty miles from 
here), and we left him and Mr. Russell to 
stay over a day. We expect them this noon. 

Every thing here is quiet. The agent 
says the Indians were never more friendly 
than at present. 

The Indians have been told they are to 
lose all they possess, and get nothing for it. 
This will make it more difficult to convince 
them that all is right; but trust we may be 
successful. 

This place is just as it used to be — very 
dusty, and every thing as inconvenient as it 
could well be. 

Our outfit has not yet arrived, and for 
the time we are boarding with the mess, and 
it is pretty poor. eating. 

We applied to Gen. McKenzie for some 
tents, and he answered, he did not expect 
any such a request, and did not think he had 
any to spare. What is the use of an order 
from the Secretary of War, if that is the 



False 
i-eports. 



A. useless 
order. 



►& 



•* 



* 



270 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Health 
good. 



* 



way it is to be treated? As it was, the agent 
found places for us. What we will do when 
all the Commissioners come, remains to be 
seen. 

The annuities and supplies have not yet 
come, and things are getting pretty low in 
the store -house. I think the, agent said he 
had about two more issues of flour. An 
omission in the issue of supplies at present, I 
think would be unfortunate. 

Ouray is here, and the Indians are com- 
ing in slowly. 

My health is pretty good, and, when 
well rested, think I will feel first-rate. 

Love to mother, and regards to friends. 
Affectionately, your son 

Will S. Stickney. 

Los Pinos Agency, Col. , 

Sunday, July 11, 1880. 
My dear Father — 

Yours of 2d and 3d inst. , inclosing report 
of last Ute Commission, came to hand yes- 
terday. Many thanks for your frequent 
writing. We have nothing to do here, and 
the mail is looked forward to with great 
interest by us all. 



* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



27: 



When in Denver, I* suggested to Colonel 
Manypenny that he secure an interpreter; 
but he preferred to wait until reaching the 
agency. Now we are here, and there is 
no one who can interpret our speech into 
Ute. 

Friday the Commission instructed me to 
hunt up Curtis. I staged it twenty- five 
miles, and that night received a courier dis- 
patch to hire a man and send him, and for 
me to return. I did so, and returned the 
next morning. Mr. Russell thought some 
one else might do as well, and save me the 
trip; hence my recall. Now we are waiting 
for Curtis; it may be four days, and perhaps 
ten, before he comes. 

The Commissioners were in such haste 
to leave Denver, that our beds, blankets, 
eatables, &c, were all left to be freighted, 
and they have not arrived yet; so we are 
bunking on tables, sofas, and the like. Last 
night I slept on the floor. 

The fare here is just about as poor as it 
well can be. However, we hope soon to live 
under our own vine and fig tree. 

The dust is so ubiquitous that it is im- 
possible to keep clear of it: so we do not 



>fr 



* 



* 



* 



•>78 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



keep ourselves quite as neat as we would 
like; but it treats us all alike. 

Have wished a good many times this 
morning that I might look in on you at S. S. 
and church. 

This is a poor country for Sunday ob- 
servance. The agent has been unloading 
goods; the Commission sent one of their 
number to confer with Gen. McKenzie, and 
when I suggested to-morrow would be as 
well, so far as the urgency of the business 
was concerned, Col. Manypenny and some 
of the others laughed at the idea — so soon 
have these gentlemen adopted the habits of 
the country. 

Yesterday we witnessed the issue of ra- 
tions. After the flour issue, we went to see 
the beef slaughter. If I were Commissioner 
of Indian Affairs, I would certainly repri- 
mand an agent who issued beef in that way, 
and if he repeated the offence, would sus- 
pend him from duty. 

The cattle were put in a corral; theoreti- 
cally, one Indian was detailed to do the kill- 
ing. He shot the first beef, then he was 
assisted by fifteen or twenty others; some 
of the cattle were wounded, and left to die 



>fr 



* 



* 



* 



UTE COMMISSION. 



in their agony; one accidentally (?) escaped 
through the gate, and they had a gay time 
chasing and shooting at the poor animal 
until it was killed; a yearling also escaped. 
and they gave chase to him. Almost as 
soon as the first one was killed, the women, 
men, and children rushed in and commenced 
to flay it, and there, in the midst of the blood 
and filth of the place, the squaws chopped 
off the different parts of the animal and 
bore them to their ponies to be carried home. 
The blood-thirsty way in which they all 
acted in this brutal scene, was discouraging 
to all attempts at civilization. It is no won- 
der they continue savages, when these scenes 
are repeated every week. 

We were told, that the week before some 
of the men amused themselves by driving a 
calf about and alternately slashing its sides 
with knives until death terminated its mis- 
ery. It is too bad, and ought to be stopped. 

Ere this you have heard why Charlie did 
not come with me; so will not repeat. Yes- 
terday I heard from him; he seems quite 
encouraged, and in good spirits; hopes to 
join me the first of August. 

Love to mother. Please tell her I re- 



>±<- 



* 



* 



380 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Expensive 

traveling. 



* 



ceived her letter duly, and like O. Twist, 
Esq. , am looking for more. 

Kind regards to friends. Health is first- 
rate. 

Affectionately, your son Will. 

P. S. I understand there is nothing but 
beef at the agency. 

Los Pinos Agency, Colo., 

Tuesday, July 13, 1880. 
My dear Father — 

Thanks for yours of 6th inst., with in- 
cisures, which came in to-day's mail. 

Our interpreter has not yet arrived, and 
we are consequently in a state of masterly 
inactivity. 

Gen'l McKenzie tells us he has no au- 
thority to furnish transportation and tents 
"to the east, on any mail line, without spe- 
cial instructions from the Department Com- 
mander." This will make it very expensive 
traveling to the Southern Ute agency, unless 
the aforesaid instructions can be obtained. 

Expect the goods will be here to-mor- 
row. 

Wednesday, the 7th inst., pic-nic day, it 
rained very hard here; hope you had all sun- 



* 



I* 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



281 



shine. Shall expect to . hear all about it day 
after to-morrow. 

Please send me some papers. Now and 
then we have a Chicago paper, but no New 
York journals. If Taylor would send his old 
Tribunes, they would be thankfully received. 

We are all well, and having as good a 
time as can be expected in such a place. 

Love to mother, and kind regards to the 
bank folks and other friends. 
Affectionately, your son 

Will S. Stickney. 

HIS LAST LETTER HOME. 

Los Pinos Agency, Colo., 

Wednesday, July 14, 1880. 
My dear Mother — 

Yours of 5th inst. came to hand this 
noon. I heard from Charlie the other day, 
and he seemed to be improving. He wrote 
in good spirits, and with good courage. 

Glad to hear you had such a good day 
Sunday, the 4th. There is so little Sabbath 
observance here, that it seems good to hear 
of a good Sunday elsewhere. 

Sorry to hear about the pic-nic disap- 

35 



Newspa- 
pers. 



Good 
courage. 



v 



+£ 



* 



282 



MEMOIR OP W. S. STICKNEY. 



■* 



Shoes for 
Mission 
scholars. 



Occup; 
tion. 



* 



pointment [it was postponed on account of 
the rain], but expect you had a fine time 
when it did come off. 

Herewith please find check for ten dol- 
lars. This will pay the Hazelton bill for 
shoes furnished some of our Mission scholars. 

I have no news to give you. Neither the 
interpreter, the Indians, nor the outfit have 
come yet; but I hope we may get to work 
Monday next. 

I spend most of my time reading up the 
treaties, writing letters, stitching torn com- 
forters, and sleeping. 

The gentlemen have the same pro- 
gramme, varied by a game of whist every 
evening. 

At night, and early in the morning, it is 
quite cool, sometimes cold, but from ten to 
four it is as hot, almost, as you have it. But 
I must fix up my bed, as some of the things 
are on another bed, and the occupant of the 
latter wishes to retire. Will finish this in 
the morning. 

Thursday morning, [July 15, 1880.] 
It is a bright, beautiful morning, prom- 
ising a warm day; but the atmosphere is 



* 



©■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



283 



cool and pure. I must tell you how we sleep 
while waiting for our goods. Col's Many- 
penny and Meacham have beds, Gen. Bow- 
man sleeps in the carpenter shop on an old 
door laid on two horses, Judge Russell and I 
sleep on the floor in the agent's room. This 
room was originally intended for a stable, 
but the agent thought it an improvement on 
his own quarters, and moved in. 

Beside the Judge, myself, and the agent, 
Hermon Silver, a friend of Mr. Mears, and 
Col. Parker, chief of the secret mail service, 
slept in this room last night. Mr. Mears 
shares a bed with one of the employes. To- 
night I hope our supplies will be here, and 
we can sleep in our tents, such as we have. 

Give love to father, please, and kind re- 
gards to all inquiring friends. 

Affectionately, your son 

Will S. S. 

In a letter written from Los Pinos to his 
friend Taylor, under date of Monday, July 

12, he says: 

"This place is nothing but dust — no 
grass, no good place even for a tent. The 



Quarters. 



* 



%+ 



284 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■s 



Tentim 



Interest 
for the 
Chapel. 



Books. 



Sunday. 



* 



accommodations are scarce. I sleep on the 
floor, and this morning came to the conclu- 
sion that I could do better out of doors; so to- 
night I am going to try it in a tent, if pos- 
sible. Our bedding and outfit are all on the 
way, so we have to put up with what we can 
get. 

"How comes on the chapel improve- 
ment? [Referring to a project inaugurated 
several months previously for the enlarge- 
ment of Calvary Chapel.] Is the fence up 
yet? I sincerely hope you will get the foun- 
dation for the north wall in this summer or 
fall; then we can go ahead in winter, if it is 
thought best. Kendall was to prepare some 
drawings, but I have not heard any thing 
about them since I left. Keep things mov- 
ing. 

' ' After a while I may want you to send 
me something to read — Lecky, Van Hoist, 
or Stubbs; but I wont trouble you yet. 

' ' Yesterday [Sunday] I thought much of 
you all, wishing for your success and bless- 
ing. No service here. 

"A letter to father in the morning; then 
a little time for putting the room in order; 
dinner, and a very poor one; then a nap; 



■* 



*■ 



UTE COMMISSION. 



* 



285 



afterwards a reading in the Bible, then a 
good wash; supper; walk; some more Bible 
reading; then good -night. 

"One of the Commissioners went to fish, 
put his rods on the bank, and they tumbled 
off, and floated down the stream — 'lost to 
sight, but to memory dear.' He received 
little sympathy." 



Little 
sympathy. 



I 



gB . a 



CHAPTER VIII. 



SICKNESS AND DEATH. 



When the righteous die, it is the earth that ioses. The lost jewel 
will always be a jewel; but the possessor, who has lost it — well may 
he weep. — Talmud. 

A DIRGE. 

Died July 20, 1880. 

"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." 

Do angel choirs chant requiems o'er the dead 

When far from friends and home they fall asleep, 

No lov'd one near? or is the rhyme of .Nature — 

Th' unwritten, unheard music of the spheres — 

The breath which wafts th' imprisoned soul to Heaven ? 

What stricken mourner then can say — "Thy will"? 
The spirit cries for one last look and word ; 
Still is the answer to our rebel "Why?" — 
"The Lord hath given, the Lord hath called away; 
Give thanks. Thy dead is living over there ! " 

— T. I. K. in "Musical Bulletin," Washington. 



ig _ — g, 



©■ 



SICKNESS AND DEATH. 



>B 



289 



tHURSDAY morning, July loth, after 
bathing in cold water, as was his daily 
practice, Will remarked to Commissioner Rus- 
sell: "I feel so well this morning." That 
night he determined to exchange his floor 
of the cabin for a cot in the tent. Accord- 
ingly, with Mr. Russell, he retired under a 
small shelter tent, or fly, without pins, a 
short distance from the cabin. His bed con- 
sisted of blankets spread upon boards. The 
weather became chilly during the night, the 
wind blew freshly, and as the walls of the 
tent were not banked nor pinned, the inmates 
were exposed to its cold blasts. In the morn- 
ing Mr. Russell observed that Will had pro- 
tected his face by covering it with his hat. 

Friday morning he complained of sore- 
ness of throat, and said he believed he was 
feverish, and thought he had taken cold. 
He declined to eat any breakfast. Mr. Rus- 
sell gave him some quinine, and called in the 
physician of the agency, Dr. Lacy, who ad- 
ministered quinine and calomel. 

Friday night a cot was placed in the 
tent. 

Saturday morning he was worse; the 
fever had increased; the temperature of his 



*■ 



Well! 



Sick 



Worse. 



I 



*■ 



* 



290 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Delirious. 



Elopes. 



W" 



body was 100 degrees; but to his friends his 
condition did not appear alarming. He evi- 
dently considered himself quite sick, and 
suggested that information be sent to his 
parents, but was told he would soon be bet- 
ter. Commissioner Meacham watched with 
him that night. 

Sunday found him no better. At six 
o'clock that evening, by advice of Commis- 
sioner Meacham, a messenger was sent for 
Dr. Brown, the army physician, who was 
with the military post, sixteen miles distant. 
For some reason, the message failed of being- 
delivered. 

Sunday night Mr. McRae. a friend of 
Commissioner Bowman, sat up with the pa- 
tient, who appeared to be delirious at times, 
asking to be moved out of the sun, as it hurt 
his head, though it was not then daylight. 

Monday morning he was visited by Ed. 
Jenkins, the driver of the stage between Los 
Pinos and Cimmaron. Will had previously 
made his acquaintance in his travels there, 
and had won his confidence and friendship. 
Jenkins, entering his tent, remarked. "I 
have come to see you." He replied, "That's 
right. I hope to be well in a day or two." 



■* 



*■ 



SICKNESS AND DEATH. 



•►& 



291 



The driver asked if he could not bring him 
something from Mrs. Clines [twenty- five 
miles distant on his route], "some milk, or 
something else?" "Yes," he said, "bring 
me some crackers; not hard -tack, but soda- 
crackers." 

Will renewed the suggestion that his pa- 
rents had better be advised of his illness, and 
was informed that as soon as the fever was 
broken speedy recovery would follow. There 
can be no doubt, though he may have con- 
sidered himself very ill at this time, that he 
did not think himself to be in any real dan- 
ger. 

During this day (Monday), after a gen- 
eral consultation, it was determined to re- 
move him to the cabin, the sun rendering it 
uncomfortably warm during the day in the 
tent. 

Two sticks were placed under the frame 
of the cot, and four men carried him about 
one hundred and fifty yards distance, into 
the cabin. 

Mr. Curtis, the interpreter, took him in 
his arms and carried him into a second room, 
which was as comfortable as any the agency 
afforded. When Mr. Curtis placed him on 



Thought 
of home. 



* 



* 



* 



* 



292 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Loss of 
speech. 



* 



the bed, Will thanked him for giving him 
"such a nice ride." 

When asked by Mr. McRae, between 
nine and ten o'clock of this morning, how 
he was, he replied with some difficulty, "Not 
very well." 

This night (Monday) an employe of the 
agency watched with the patient. 

Another messenger was sent for the 
army physician, who reached the agency at 
two o'clock Tuesday morning. He expressed 
his approbation of the treatment, and recom- 
mended its continuance. 

At ten o'clock the sufferer motioned to 
Curtis to come to his bed. Will drew him 
down and tried to talk, but could not speak. 

From the best interpretation of his artic- 
ulations and signs, his last thoughts were of 
his home — a home peculiarly dear to him — 
never forgotten, and from which he always 
parted with regret — 

"And dragged at each remove a lengthening chain" — 

to return to which he daily looked forward 
with the greatest desire. 

That morning the fever was broken, and 
stimulants administered. 



* 



* 



* 



SICKNESS AND DEATH. 



-m 



His friend Jenkins, the stage driver, 
went to see him shortly before twelve, with 
the milk and crackers. He swallowed with 
difficulty several spoonsful. 

Retaining full consciousness to the last, 
at half -past twelve, without a struggle, 
calmly and peacefully his pure spirit took 
its flight. 

Commissioner Bowman writes: "It was 
my sad pleasure to sit by his side, and alone, 
while all others were absent, not expecting 
so sudden a result, and to witness his peace- 
ful, quiet departure. 

"His noble, manly form lies before me 
at this moment, as natural as life, with that 
kind, bland expression which made him so 
attractive while living. 

"Our Commission had all become greatly 
endeared to him, and knew well his manly, 
christian virtues." 

Commissioner Russell: "The morning 
before his death. I asked if he desired to 
write his parents, and he said, not if we felt 
that he would be out in a few days. He was 
all the time quiet, except when spoken to; 



* 



Death. 



* 



*■ 



294 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Lamented. 



*■ 



and at no time did he express regret, or 
complain because of his sickness. I felt all 
the time, until the moment of his death, that 
he would recover; but it seemed to be the 
will of the Ruler over all that it should be 
otherwise." 

Commissioner Meacham writes : ' ' Willie 
retained full consciousness and voice until 
about ten this morning. Every thing that 
love could do was done. The Commission, 
the agent, and military officers have all been 
kind, and deplore the sudden death of one so 
young and so much beloved. 

"We sought in every way to encourage 
him in the hope of speedy recovery, fully 
believing, until the day of his death, he 
would soon be well again; and for this rea- 
son, he has left no message for the loved 
ones." 

It is not the purpose of this Memorial 
to attempt to describe the anguish of the 
parents, as they were aroused from sleep 
at midnight, Wednesday, the 21st of July, 
by Mr. Bell, the Assistant Secretary of the 
Interior, and told that their son, of whose 



* 



*■ 



SICKNESS AND DEATH. 



* 



295 



welfare and good health they had received 
almost daily tidings, lay dead at the Los 
Pinos agency. 

He presented the following telegrams, 
just received: 

Los Pinos, Colorado, July 20, 1880. 
To Carl Schurz, Sec'y Int. , 

Washington, D. C. 
Clerk Stickney has been sick five days 
with typhoid fever. We have two physi- 
cians. They pronounce his condition criti- 
cal. Please inform his father. 

Geo. W. Manypenny, Ch. Ute Com. 

Los Pinos Agency, Col. . 
July 20, 1880. 
Hon. Secretary of Interior, 

Washington, D. C. 
W. S. Stickney, Clerk of the Ute Com- 
mission, died at 12:30 to-day. Embalming 
impossible. The physicians think it imprac- 
ticable to send body east at present. Will 
pack it in zinc coffin and charcoal, ready for 
removal in fall. Please inform Mr. Stickney. 
Geo. W. Manypenny. Ch. Ute Com. 



*■ 



Telegrams 



* 



* 



296 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■W 



Desolate 
home. 



Hope 
against 
hope. 



* 



This was the first and only intimation 
received by the parents, that their precious 
boy, their joy and pride, was otherwise than 
well. 

Mr. Bell, with such words of consolation 
as he could command, soon took his leave of 
a home, till then happy, but ever after to be 
desolate. 

The parents were stunned almost into 
insensibility. They could not believe the 
dreadful tidings. It was not possible that 
their kind, Heavenly Father had, in an in- 
stant, without premonition, put out the light 
and joy of their life. 

The telegraph and the mail soon extin- 
guished the glimmer of hope that there 
might be some mistake, and the reality, 
with all its great, crushing weight, began 
to force itself upon their consciousness. 

The sad, sad intelligence that their boy, 
so manly, noble, and pure; so high-minded, 
self-reliant, hopeful, and strong; so full of 
spirit and of action; upon the threshold of 
his manhood, was cold in death, must, how- 
ever reluctantly, be accepted as true. 

Wednesday, July 21, at five o'clock in 
the afternoon, the remains, which had been 



* 



*■ 



SICKNESS AND DEATH. 



* 



297 



placed in a zinc casketj inclosed in a wooden 
box, were escorted to the hill -side about a 
mile from the agency, by the members of the 
Commission, civilians, members of the army 
present, and a few Indians, including the 
present chief, Sapovoneri, and buried be- 
neath the pines. 

The Episcopal service was impressively 
read by one of the gentlemen present. 

The physicians and Commissioners con- 
curred in the opinion that it would be im- 
practicable to remove the remains east before 
winter, and so telegraphed and wrote. But 
the parents could not endure the thought of 
having the precious remains in the wilder- 
ness of Colorado, when, in their judgment, it 
was possible to have them brought home. 

Accordingly, Messrs. T. R. Jones and L. 
R. Taylor, warm friends of the family and of 
the deceased, who volunteered to visit Col- 
orado and bring the precious dust to Wash- 
ington, were commissioned to perform the 
sad office. 

They were entirely successful in the dis- 
charge of their melancholy duties, and on 
Wednesday, the 11th of August, reached 
Washington. 

37 



©■ 



Buried be- 
neath the 
pines. 



Remains 

brought 

home. 



* 



£l , — . ►£ 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE FUNERAL. 



S. T. T. L. 

Sit tibi terra levis. 

May the earth be light upon thee. — Inscription on Roman Tomb. 

Unveil thy bosom, faithful tomb, 

Take this new treasure to thy trust ; 
And give these sacred relics room 

To seek a slumber in the dust. 
So Jesus slept ; God's dying Son 

Passed through the grave and blessed the bed ; 
Rest here, dear saint, till from his throne 

The morning break, and pierce the shade. — Watts, 1734. 



9 ; ; >J 



*■ 



FUNERAL. 



301 



tHE funeral services occurred on Friday, 
the 13th of August, at the Calvary Bap- 
tist Church, at half -past three. 

The following correct account of the ob- 
sequies was published in the National Re- 
publican newspaper: 

•'Imposing Funeral Display at Calvary 
Baptist Church. 

' ' The funeral of William Soule Stickney, 
Secretary of the Ute Commission, who died 
in Colorado on the 20th of July, took place at 
three o'clock yesterday afternoon from the 
Calvary Baptist Church, and seldom have 
greater honors been paid to the dead. After 
a prayer at the house of Mr. William Stick- 
ney, father of the deceased, at the corner of 
Sixth and M streets, the remains were re- 
moved to the Calvary Baptist Church. The 
church was already packed with people, the 
crowds extending out into the street. The 
funeral ceremonies were conducted in the 
Sabbath School room, which was draped in 
mourning. The teachers of the Sabbath 
School, who wore appropriate badges of 
mourning, were seated at the right of the 
pulpit, while the space at the left was occu- 



*■ 



Fun oval. 



A.t homo 



At the 
church. 



* 



* 



302 



-— * 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Sunday 

School 

children. 



Floral 
offerings. 



Eulogies. 



Singing 



''XT 



pied by the three hundred children of the 
Calvary Mission School, attended by their 
teachers. Each child held in his hand a 
bouquet of white flowers, and wore upon his 
bosom a white silk badge, inscribed in black 
letters, 'July 20, 1880. In memory of our 
beloved Superintendent, W. S. Stickney. In 
solo Deo salus.' The casket, covered with 
cloth, with drop black handles, with a plate 
suitably inscribed, was placed before the 
altar. A feature of the obsequies was the 
richness and profusion of the floral display — 
flowers being worked in every appropriate de- 
sign. As the procession entered the church, 
a dirge was rendered by Professor Hayden, 
the organist. Rev. Mr. Greene conducted 
the services and pronounced a eulogy of the 
deceased. He was followed by Rev. Dr. 
Morehouse, of New York City, formerly pas- 
tor of the church attended by the deceased 
when a student at Rochester, N. Y. Dr. 
Welling, President of the Columbian Uni- 
versity, also added his testimony to the 
worth of the deceased. During the services 
the children of the Calvary Mission, under 
the direction of Mr. David Haines, sang with 
fine effect 'It is Well with My Soul.' The 



* 



*■ 



FUNERAL. 



:]o: 



remains were then removed from the church 
to the hearse, Messrs. Theo I. King, L. R. 
Taylor, J. M. Bessey, J. H. Olcott, H. G. 
Jacobs, H. H. Kendall, D. A. Chambers, and 
D. E. McComb officiating as pall -bearers." 

Impressive as was the scene at the 
church, the spectacle at Oak Hill Cemetery, 
beautiful by nature and radiant with its rich 
profusion of flowers, was most affecting. 

The members of the Calvary Mission 
School filed in solemn procession past the 
grave, which was about to close upon the 
form of their beloved Superintendent, and 
cast in their beautiful floral offerings — the 
last expression of their deep affection for a 
true and devoted friend. 

The church choir sang the "Sweet Bye- 
and-Bye," and the pastor read the following 
requiem, sent by an unknown friend: 

REQUIEM. 
WILLIAM SOULE STICKNEY. 

LAID TO HIS REST AT OAK HILL, AUGUST 13, 1880. 

Brought home, where the dust of his kindred reposes, 
To sleep 'mid the dew and the breath of the roses — 
In summer, the season the sweetest and fairest — 
Himself, of its blossoms, the purest and rarest. 



*- 



At Oak 
Hill. 



Calvary 
Mission 
School. 



Requiem. 



* 



>fr 



304 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■* 



He sleeps his last sleep — while all nature reposes, 
And melody breaks from earth's thousands of voices; 
Like distant sweet chimes, o'er evening's winds singing, 
The music he breathed is in echoes still ringing. 

Life's silver cord loosed, and the golden bowl broken; 
We bow to the mandate Jehovah has spoken; 
God's promise proclaims, o'er the lov'd and lamented, 
The silver cord loosed, shall again be cemented. 

We lay him in love 'neath the rose and the willow — 
Peace sits by his ashes — Peace breathes 'round his pillow; 
How well that such graces and gifts should be given, 
Like precious first fruits — an offering to Heaven. 

God gave — and we bless him ! God took — and though parted, 
Still trusting — still loving — we yield, broken-hearted; 
Again in the home of the blest we shall greet him, 
And youth bloom immortal, when joyful we meet him! 

A short prayer and benediction, and the 
mournful company slowly retired, leaving 
all that is mortal of their precious friend 
among the flowers, the "purest and rarest.*" 
and loveliest of them all. 



* 



■* 



gi i ; ■ % 



CHAPTER X. 

MEMORIAL ADDRESSES, LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE, AND 
RESOLUTIONS OF SYMPATHY. 



There is a way to get the kingdom; get the people, and the 
kingdom is got. There is a way to get the people; get their hearts, 
and the people are got. The people turn to a benevolent rule, as the 
water flows downward. — Mencius. 



Ig : : : )% 



*■ 



MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 



* 



30? 



ADDRESS BY THE PASTOR, 
Rev. Samuel H. Greene. 

> C <5^0ME lives, when they terminate here, go 
^f out in utter darkness; others in the twi- 
light of doubt and obscurity; while to others 
it is given to depart like the setting sun, 
when, having finished its daily course, it 
sweeps through the western gates, leaving 
us, under skies resplendent with its touch, 
to recount its kindly ministry. Such a life, 
it seems to me, was this, the sudden ter- 
mination of which so many mourn to-day. 
I am prompted to no words of eulogy as I 
stand beside this precious dust. No words 
of mine can add to your appreciation of the 
beauty and value of the life which was so 
marked in the purpose and toil. His record 
is his best eulogy. What he has been to 
us in the past, what he is to us to-day, 
these tear -dimmed eyes and quivering lips 
about me speak more eloquently than words 
can tell. 

I need not in this presence speak of 
him as the affectionate and dutiful son; the 
thoughtful and devoted friend; the thorough 
and enthusiastic student; the vigorous and 



some 
lives 



A'o words 
of eulogy 
needed. 



3+ 



■* 



* 



■* 



308 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Ye are the 
witnesses. 



Some 
traits. 



Intelli- 



*■ 



independent thinker; nor need I impress up- 
on your minds the memory of one so earnest 
in his religious convictions and labors as to 
subordinate all else to these; of one who was 
a wise, generous, anxious Sunday School 
Superintendent, a tender hearted and prayer- 
ful teacher. Nor yet is there occasion to tell 
you how earnestly he prayed; how tenderly 
he entreated the lost; or how he preached 
the gospel from house to house, often with 
tears, ministering to the sick and afflicted, 
and stretching out his hands generously to 
the poor. Of these things you have been 
the fortunate and appreciative witnesses. 
And while we would bring no fulsome words 
of praise to this sad place, yet we instinc- 
tively feel that honesty and gratitude de- 
mand the recognition of the life which 
touched so many of us only with blessings. 
1 shall simply attempt to recall some of the 
traits which peculiarly marked this dear life; 
and first let me speak of his Intelligence. 

The agreeableness and worth of human 
friendship is always largely measured by its 
intelligence. Nature gave him from out of 
her choicest gifts. From infancy these 
found a congenial sphere for development in 



* 



*■ 



■^ 



MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 



309 



the home life. The natural desire for know- 
ledge found here a wise and healthy stimu- 
lus. The privilege of native city and land 
were supplemented by months of study 
abroad, and what he gained was devoted 
to a high and worthy purpose. Not in a 
single department was he intelligent, but in 
many. Literature, art, and science found 
in him an enthusiastic student and friend. 
But he had a knowledge of more than was 
taught in the schools. He learned to know 
men, and more than most young men he 
came to know his race — its sin, its need, 
and its grand possibilities; his ministry, con- 
sequently, was tender, appreciative, and sen- 
sible. How largely he was successful in 
approaching, leading, and blessing others, 
let these hundreds who shared in his min- 
istry give answer to - day. 

But again. I was impressed with his 
Honesty — not a mere legal or business hon- 
esty, but much more. There was in his 
nature an utter abhorrence of all pretense 
or sham. He was an honest thinker. His 
convictions resulted from his thinking, and 
they represented to him intelligence, con- 
science, and judgment. To these convic- 



Honesty. 



* 



* 



*■ 



* 



310 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Honest 
pith him- 
self. 



* 



tions he was loyal, cost what it might, and 
no man can say that ever, for a single day, 
did he turn aside from the course to which 
those convictions impelled him. If mistakes 
were made, they were mistakes of judgment 
and not of heart. He believed in the tri- 
umph of the right, and consecrated himself 
to it. I cannot better describe his position 
than to give one of his favorite quotations: 

"Truth is ever on the scaffold, 

And wrong is ever on the throne; 

Yet that scaffold sways the future, 
And behind that great unknown 

Standeth God within the shadow, 
Keeping watch above his own." 

He was as honest with himself as with 
others. A fault was not less a fault because 
he discovered it in his own life. I remember 
how tearfully it is told in his home now. 
that, when but a little child, having trans- 
gressed the commandment of his mother and 
felt no punishment for it, he came to her, 
bringing in his little hand a stick, and ask- 
ing that he might receive the punishment 
he merited. Whatever it might cost of open 
confession and tears, the consciousness of an 
honest life was worth infinitely more to him 



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311 



than every other consideration. This hon- 
esty made him a model of untiring industry 
and left upon his work the marks of thor- 
oughness throughout. He was too honest to 
expend the time, strength, or means which 
God had given him, in any thing but the 
highest and best of purposes. In the social, 
religious, and business life his sincerity was 
every where apparent, and constituted one 
of the peculiar charms with which his char- 
acter was invested. 

But again. He came so near us and 
blessed us so largely in his Sympathy. No 
nature was more susceptible to touch of joy 
or sorrow than was his. His delicately con- 
stituted senses quickly comprehended and 
took hold of the experience of others, and 
the unfortunate, the suffering, the bereaved, 
found in him a warm and practical sympa- 
thy. I well remember, when not a week 
had elapsed since I had entered on my duties 
here, of his calling to tell me of an afflicted 
family in his Mission School. I remember 
the impression made upon me as he said, 
his eyes filling with tears, "It seems to me 
we shall save this family for God." He 
shared their sorrows, and used whatever 



Sympathy. 



To save 
for God. 



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* 



312 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Piety. 



Fidelity to 
con- 
science. 



■fc. 



influence he had to bless their affliction to 
the salvation of their souls. He was in 
profound sympathy with his race, and his 
happiest hours were when he served it. 
Generous, self -forgetful, he imitated the ex- 
ample of his Divine Master, and sought "not 
to be ministered unto, but to minister. " 

But the characteristic which impressed 
us most strongly, was the fact that he was 
Pious. His intelligence, honesty, and sym- 
pathy were laid in consecration at the feet 
of Jesus, where these earthly gifts were 
sanctified and guided by the Holy Spirit, 
and used for the highest possible good of his 
race. His entrance upon the religious life 
was not the result of any sudden emotion, 
but from the commencement to the close 
bore the mark of intelligent and decided 
conviction. It was fidelity to his conscience, 
his judgment, and the Word of God. But 
while he was moved by principle rather than 
emotion, it was not the coldness of a merely 
intellectual piety. There was a tenderness 
and depth of religious life. We felt in his 
presence that he had been with Christ. He 
was honest in his spiritual life. It meant 
vastly more than a nominal church member- 



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313 



ship to him. It meant submission to Christ; 
union with Him and His people in their 
spirit and work; the laying on God's altar 
of all that was most precious and dear to 
him. It is pleasant to feel that the first 
money ever earned by him was given to 
build this edifice to God, and that the last 
time he ever lifted a pen — among the moun- 
tains of Colorado — was to write a note en- 
closing a check which should help to bring 
happiness to the scholars of his Mission 
School. 

His piety was progressive. He grew in 
grace, and believed in it for himself and 
others. He was peculiarly happy in his re- 
ligious work. Its ways to him were ways 
of pleasantness, and all the paths were peace. 
Over the intense earnestness of his religious 
life, strengthened by profound conviction, 
there broke the sunshine of his great heart 
and greater hope. I think none of us who 
walked beside our brother and shared in his 
work, have ever seen an hour when we could 
gather, by any sign or expression, that the 
duties of his religious life were not pleasant 
ones to bear. There seemed to be to him no 
stronger, richer satisfaction than that of 



Growth 
in grace. 



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314 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Symmetry 



Desire. 



being in submission to the will of his Master, 
and giving his life to His service. 

The elements of character which we 
have mentioned were happily blended, giv- 
ing symmetry and strength to his life. Here 
was ability with modesty, zeal tempered by 
intelligence, and faith lighted by works. 
That such a life was attractive, inspiring, 
elevating in its tendencies, we cannot won- 
der. His last days with us were filled with 
Christ -like work. He fell at his post, and 
away from us, but found Heaven just as 
near and sweet from Los Pinos as if he had 
gone up to it from out his own beautiful 
home. He learned long ago in whom he 
trusted, and the "valley and the shadow of 
death" had no fear for him. "I should like 
to experience for myself what lies beyond.'" 
he said but a few weeks before his departure. 
There was no morbid fear in his heart, but a 
longing to see the land to which his kindred 
had gone and to which he had pointed those 
he loved the best. 

The clouds are heavy over us to-day. 
We had hoped to hear his voice and take 
his hand again this side of the river; but 
God had better and greater blessings in store 



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for our brother, and to r day, I doubt not, his 
foot -fall is heard within the pearly gates, 
and a "Welcome home," grander and sweet- 
er than ours, is sounding in his ears, and 
the hands we hoped to clasp are casting the 
crown at the feet of Him we love. The 
home call has sounded. The brother has 
entered into rest. Let us not mourn as do 
others. We shall not lay him in the grave 
to-day. This is but the casket which held 
the jewel. And now, while we thank God 
for this true, sweet life; for what it was to 
himself, his family, the church, and the 
world, let us bow in submission to the will 
of Him "who is too wise to err, too good to 
be unkind." We have left to us the precious 
memory of what he was, the gracious prom- 
ise of what he is. 

To these stricken parents and kindred, 
the bereaved church and Sunday School, and 
mourning friends, there come the consola- 
tions of the gospel he believed and loved. 
We shall meet him again when the night has 
past and the morning has come. "Where- 
fore comfort one another with these words." 

No language of mine can portray to you 
the overwhelming loss which has fallen upon 



Called 
home. 



Submis- 
sion. 



* 



H 



* 



316 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Loss to 
liis home. 



Personal 
loss. 



*■ 



the home dear to all our hearts. No lan- 
guage can express the sympathy which goes 
out from every true christian heart to those 
who mourn over so great and sore an afflic- 
tion. The highest ministry we can bring is 
the promise of the Master we love, who bids 
us to find peace in Him. I cannot describe 
the loss which has come upon the Church of 
Christ in being thus bereft of one of its most 
vigorous and devoted laborers, whom God 
has gathered to Himself. And yet, while we 
mourn, there is greater reason for rejoicing, 
that in the hour of earthly loss there is tri- 
umph over pain. Our brother joins to-day 
in Alleluias "over there." 
, I cannot close without giving brief ex- 
pression to my own sense of personal loss in 
the death of this brother beloved. When I 
came, a total stranger to this city, these fold- 
ed white hands were the first outstretched to 
bid me welcome. When I came at a later 
time, to enter upon official relations to this 
church, those hands again gave me welcome, 
and I came immediately into the strong and 
beautiful influence of that sweet life. To 
many of you who have recently put on 
Christ, he first called my attention. You 



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317 



had shared long- in his love and prayers. I 
shall miss his affectionate words of sympa- 
thy and cheer; his counsel and prayers; his 
earnest, tear -wet face as it looked up to me 
from the sanctuary pew. I am sadly con- 
scious that one who prayed for the success 
of the gospel, through my humble ministry, 
has left us when I seemed to need him so 
much. But I would not murmur; no, rather 
would I join hands with those who mourn, 
and seek with them those spiritual heights 
from which we can catch glimpses of the 
land to which he has gone, and rejoice with 
him in his victory. Here are crushed hopes 
and a darkened home; yonder, thank God. 
are hopes realized and the "Father's house." 
The inspiration of his precious life is upon 
us, and it calls us not to his grave, but to 
his work. Upon whom shall his mantle fall? 
I look over the young men of this congrega- 
tion and ask myself, upon whom shall the 
mantle of our brother fall? Who shall take 
up the words of the prayers now ended; the 
testimony that has been given for the last 
time? Beside this silent sleeper I ask you 
to pledge yourselves to the work he laid 
down. Let us remember that he became 



* 



Missed. 



His 
mantle. 



* 



318 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Loss to 
Mission 
School. 



Last 
words 



*■ 



what he was only as he followed Christ, and 
we can only hope to enter into his toil here 
and his rest hereafter, when Christ becomes 
to us the "all and in all." 

I know I speak to many who mourn, 
outside of his home and family and kindred, 
the loss of our brother. The tears would 
come as these children filed in from the Mis- 
sion School, and I thought how, to some of 
them, he had been more than father and 
mother, and I asked who should care for 
them now? But the God he loved abides; 
though the teacher, the superintendent de- 
part, yet the Savior, whose image he bore, 
dwells with those who love Him forever- 
more. Let your hearts find comfort in that 
source of consolation and comfort to which 
he pointed you. Let the last words he ut- 
tered in your hearing come to have a deep 
place in your hearts and home. For listen 
to what he said as he bade you what then 
promised to be but a brief farewell: "Let 
us all so live that, if we do not meet here 
again, we may meet around the Great White 
Throne in heaven." How little he knew 
how near his feet were to the pearly gates. 

We take leave of him amid the flowers. 



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319 



in the place full of saGred associations, to 
which he has come. We shall lay his body 
down beneath his native skies, in the midst 
of the community where his prayers and 
testimonies shall still be sounding in our 
ears; and beside this precious dust let us 
learn to know how good a thing it is to 
follow the Lord Jesus. How sweet and 
blessed it is, when life's work is ended, to 
sleep in Jesus ! 

"Asleep in Jesus; blessed sleep, 
From which none ever wake to weep." 

So he goes from us in the impress and 
beauty of his first manhood. We shall not 
forget him. His memory shall cheer us in 
our toil; and when the toil shall be ended, 
and we go out from these Sabbath School 
classes and missions, and the places which 
our work and duty have made for us, it will 
only be into a heaven richer and sweeter 
because many of those we love have gone 
before. By the precious dust we shall write. 
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. 
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest 
from their labors, and their works do follow 
them." 



* 



Dead, yet 
speaking. 



N«>t to ne 
forgotten. 



■© 



*■ 



* 



320 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



"It is well 

with my 

soul." 



And now the dear scholars who loved 
him so well, shall bring to us their tribute 
and offering as they sing to us, "It is Well 
with My Soul," from out those sweet songs 
in which our brother so often led them before 
he passed over to the other side. 



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ADDRESS 
By Rev. H. L. Morehouse, 

Secretary American Baptist Home Mission Society. 

tHIS, to me, has been an unusually sad 
week. On Tuesday last I mingled my 
tears with those of the friends of that great 
and good man, Dr. Bishop, of K Y., whom 
we laid away in Greenwood Cemetery, and 
now I meet with those who weep the loss of 
an only child, and a justly beloved son. Dr. 
Bishop was an honored member of the Board 
of the American Baptist Home Mission So- 
ciety, of which this sorrowing father is Pres- 
ident, and I am here, as I was there, as a 
representative of that society, to express, so 
far as my presence enables me to express, 
not only my own personal sympathy, but 
also the sympathy of my associates, with my 
brother, and all who are smitten by this 
affliction. But I am here in more than a 
representative capacity. I am here because 
my own personal regard for him who has 
gone prompts me to be here. In that loss 
to which I have referred, and in this, a per- 
sonal friendship has been sundered. The 
one had passed his three score and ten years 

40 



Sad week. 



3* 



Pei'sonal 
regard. 



* 



* 



322 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Contrasts. 



Parental 

hopes. 



Life trans- 
ferred. 



►fr 



of a life filled with usefulness. The other 
left us before he had finished his one score 
and ten years — years, however, that had 
already yielded rich fruit, and given promise 
of even greater productiveness for Christ in 
the later life. Such are the contrasts of the 
week — age and youth gathered into the 
grave. That the aged should be called to 
rest was according to the divinely appointed 
and natural order of things. That this 
youthful servant, our beloved friend, should 
be smitten down thus, when thoroughly 
equipped for life's work, when so many of 
his stamp are specially needed in the church 
and world, and when so many parental 
hopes centred about him, is one of those 
mysteries that no one can fathom. Only a 
strong faith can say, "It is for the best;" 
"All things work together for good to them 
that love God. " Only a strong faith at such 
a time can say, "Thy will, O God, be done." 

That life, however — that higher life — 
has not ended. It has simply been trans- 
ferred to the higher, nobler, purer world, 
where the redeemed of all ages unceasingly 
sing the praises of Him who redeemed them. 

Our departed friend and brother, Wil- 



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323 



Ham S. Stickney, was indeed a servant of 
the Lord Jesus Christ. It was my privilege 
to know him and the character of his service 
during the important period of his life, when 
he was a student in the University at Ro- 
chester, New York. When, in January, 1873, 
I assumed charge of the church in Rochester, 
to which I had been called, I found him, 
student as he was, variously and earnestly 
engaged in christian service for that church, 
and as devoted to its service as the very best 
member. He was organist and chorister, 
having charge of a large volunteer choir, 
which he diligently and patiently drilled on 
Saturday evenings, and successfully led on 
the Sabbath day. . For a time he conducted 
singing in the Sabbath School, wherein, also, 
he was a most faithful and successful teach- 
er. He was a regular attendant at the 
Wednesday evening prayer meeting, and 
on Friday evening, when the Young People 
held their meeting, or the monthly covenant 
meeting was observed, he was usually pres- 
ent; coming in after attending the meeting 
of the Y. M. C. A. of the University, which 
met half an hour earlier. He frequently 
took part in these meetings, and well do I 



Important 
period. 



Activity. 



*■ 



* 



* 



* 



324 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Social 
powers. 



Results 

unknown 

to us. 



►fr 



remember his thoughtful, soulful, and tender 
utterances on these occasions. During the 
winter of 1874 and '75 there was a special 
religious interest, and I recall his assiduous 
labors in behalf of the unconverted, both in 
the Sabbath School, the congregation, and 
the University, and it was largely through 
his influence, I ana sure, that several, includ- 
ing some students in the University, pro- 
fessed their faith in Christ. His fine social 
powers were dedicated to christian service, 
and thus, unlike many, wherever he went 
he carried his religion with him, for it was 
in him and of him; it was ingrained, and 
it would manifest itself; it could not be hid- 
den. How much richer that church was 
because of his presence! — how much richer 
those circles of friends among whom he 
moved! — how much richer that University 
because of his pronounced religious charac- 
ter, who can tell? Only God can know; 
only in eternity will be gathered up the 
results of his work and influence. When 
I came to know his antecedents, his culture, 
his refined tastes, and then saw him give 
his heart and strength to a church organized 
after he came to the University, and which. 



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325 



neither as to its house of worship nor general 
character, could be as attractive or gratify- 
ing to his tastes as other older and stronger 
churches, I felt the sincerest admiration for 
his character, and I thought, there was one 
who was religious not merely because it 
would minister to his own needs, but one 
who would look over the whole field and 
say, "Where am I most needed? Where 
can I do the most good? Where will my 
work tell the most for God?" and finding 
that field, would give himself wholly to it. 
From January, 1873, to July, 1875, he was 
to me a friend and helper in my pastoral 
work, such as few young men have been 
in the whole course of my ministry, and I 
never can forget him, and his worth, and 
what he accomplished, while scores of his 
associates, who were also christians, have 
faded from my memory, because they did 
nothing particularly worthy of remembrance. 
Verily, as the Psalmist says, "The righteous 
shall be in everlasting remembrance.** 

Not alone in church matters were his 
thoughts and efforts enlisted. The religious 
principle ruled in all he did. He was chiefly 
instrumental in establishing a University 



*■ 



Friend 

and 
helper. 



* 



336 



MEMOIE OF W. S. STICKNBY. 



* 



A leadei*. 



Indepen- 
dence. 



.Man 



*- 



paper, through which the institution should 
be represented. I remember with what ear- 
nestness he threw himself into it. He was 
its chief editor for a time, and ever aimed 
to give the paper a high character, and was 
especially anxious that nothing in its pages 
should cast any reflection on the institution, 
or be detrimental to the reader. Among the 
students he was a leader — a leader not for 
the sake of distinction, but to use his in- 
fluence for good. He was independent in 
judgment and in purpose — not following the 
current tendencies of college life, but aiming 
rather to direct college sentiment and opin- 
ion into right channels. I may say here, 
that, by both the President and Professors 
of the University, he was held in the high- 
est esteem for his thorough christian bearing 
and manliness, as well as for his work as a 
student. 

If I were to sum up his character, I 
would say that he impressed me then as a 
man of profound earnestness, great sincerity, 
and marked conscientiousness, with simpli- 
city of character, humility, and special con- 
secration to Christ. His ruling purpose, I 
am sure, was to learn how best to serve 



* 



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MEMORIAL. ADDRESS. 



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327 



Christ; how, while he lived, he could do the 
most good for the world. 

During the closing months of his college 
course, he reflected seriously what his call 
in life should be, and conversed with me 
freely about a call to the ministry. He was 
impressed with the greatness of the minis- 
ter's work, but was not anxious to assume 
the responsibilities of the office. For several 
months he debated the question whether he 
should enter the ministry, and I am con- 
vinced that his decision not to preach the 
Gospel was the result of thoughtful consid- 
eration and prayer. His convictions were 
not sufficiently positive, and he could not 
think of going forward in such a serious 
matter uncertainly. 

But I must not linger on what we love to 
think of in him who has now gone from us. 
Were he to speak, would not he say: "If 
there was any thing good in me, the praise 
thereof belongs to Christ, through whose 
grace I am what I am?" To wise and loving- 
parental christian training, and to the direct 
influences of the Holy Spirit, would he refer 
as the efficient causes in the formation of his 
christian character. So. while we mention 



* 



Question 
of duly. 



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328 



tB 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



His life a 
lesson. 



►it 



what he was, we remember that the ultimate 
praise is due to Christ, who can so change, 
beautify, and conform to his own likeness 
this poor human nature of ours on which 
and in which He works so mightily. Though 
our dear friend was possessed of many nat- 
ural endowments which rendered him lova- 
ble and admirable, yet all these were lighted 
up, mellowed, and beautified by the grace of 
God, as the colors and figures in a stained- 
glass window are brought out into beauty by 
the sunlight of heaven. 

Some of the lessons of this life, that par- 
ticularly impress me, are these: In the first 
place, there is in his life a lesson to young 
men pursuing a course of study, or engaged 
in any profession that calls them from home 
and from their usual religious associations. 
We have here a demonstration that the reli- 
gious life need not deteriorate, while one is 
engaged in a course of study, as it too often 
does. That need not be so with any young- 
man. The education of the head need not, 
should not, interfere with spiritual develop- 
ment. And in the second place, I wish to 
call your attention to the importance of 
youthful devotion to Christ. Our brother 



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MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 



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did not wait until he should become old and 
influential before he gave his service to 
Christ. What ability he had as a young 
man he used as a young man for Christ. 
When we remember that the great harvest- 
field of souls is in the younger period of life, 
and that none can reap so well in that har- 
vest, as young men and women, whose expe- 
riences are of the same kind as those among 
whom they labor, what a wonderful incen- 
tive it is for young men and young women 
to put all they are, all they have, all they are 
worth, into the cause of Christ! What a 
wonderful influence a christian young man 
has in college, in the church, in the Sabbath 
School; and to-day what an influence goes 
out from that life, and from this place! — 
How the nobility of such a life stands out in 
contrast with that soulless and aimless life 
of multitudes. As we recall what he has 
accomplished for Christ, and for souls on 
this earth, what inspiration has gone forth 
from him to others, and how many noble 
impulses have been generated by contact 
with him, we can say: "Truly his life has 
been productive of great things." 



* 



Youthful 
devotion 
to Christ. 



Influence 
of the 
youn#. 



Nobility 
of his life. 



■* 



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330 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Character 
trans- 
formed. 



Consola- 
tion. 



* 



" We live in deeds, not years ; in thoughts, not breaths ; 
In feelings, not in figures on a dial. He most lives 
Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best." 

I have spoken of these things in the hope 
that some one of those present may be led to 
seek Christ; that some one of you, troubled 
with faults, with passions, it may be with 
some besetting sin, may be led to look to 
Him who can impart heavenly power which 
will transform your character and make it 
beautiful, as that of our friend was beautiful. 
He was a standing witness to the power of 
God's grace to keep a soul from falling, and 
to render a life eminently useful. 

What an unspeakable consolation it is to 
these parents to remember his affectionate 
character; his deep love for Christ; and his 
decided religious life — a consolation which 
I can only illustrate by reference to an inci- 
dent that occurred during my pastorate. In 
the same college class to which our brother 
belonged, was a young man who was taken 
sick and died near the completion of his 
course. He, too, was an only son. During 
the religious interest which prevailed in the 
institution, both our departed brother and 
myself were deeply interested in his welfare. 



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331 



He had imbibed skepticism from books, was 
materialistic in his views, but being troubled 
on account of his sins, publicly asked prayers 
for himself, and honestly endeavored, as I 
think, to believe in Christ as his Savior. He 
made no positive public profession, however . 
So he died. When his parents came, they 
sought me and said, with tears, "Can you 
give us any evidence that our son professed 
faith in Christ?" and I never saw two chris- 
tian hearts yearn so for some evidence on 
which to hang their hope of his eternal wel- 
fare — something which would afford conso- 
lation to the soul in that trying hour. I 
could only tell them what he had said, and 
how he had felt, and how he had tried to 
exercise faith in Christ; but how I wished 
for something more that I could tell them, 
with which their hearts might be comforted. 
But to-day I need say nothing to these af- 
flicted parents to assure them that he who 
has gone is at rest. Theirs is the great con- 
solation, which his pronounced christian life 
gives, that Christ has taken their son to 
Himself. And so we bid our brother fare- 
well, feeling that he has entered into the 
' ' rest that remaineth for the people of God. " 



>^ 



Contrast. 



* 



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332 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Sympathy, 



Personal 
knowledge 



* 



3- 



ADDRESS 

By James C. Welling, LL.D., 

President of the Columbian University. 

jTF AM here to - day to attest simply by my 
^ presence, for my words must be few, not 
only the sympathy which is due to a stricken 
father and mother, who feel that the light of 
their eyes has been quenched, and that the 
gladness of earth has fled from their hearts, 
but also the sympathy due to a church 
which, in the death of our young and be- 
loved brother, has been called to mourn the 
loss of a loyal and earnest christian worker, 
and the sympathy due to a Sunday School 
weeping over the sudden and, as it seems 
to us, the untimely fall of a Superintendent 
who was faithful, energetic, and devout. 
And I am also here to take my part in a 
great affliction. 

It has been my fortune, and I count it 
my good fortune, to have known our friend 
and brother from his early youth down to 
the day of his death. I saw him as he grew 
up, a bright and gleeful boy, in the sacred 
precincts of home, diffusing joy and gladness 
among all with whom he came in contact. 
I saw him as he sat on the forms of the 



* 



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MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 



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333 



* 



The chris- 
tian's 
crown. 



Sunday School, a diligent student of the 
Holy Book,, and as he entered the sanctuary 
to learn from its ministrations the way of 
life. I saw him as he went from among us 
to dwell in college halls, and as he came 
back from them, laden with their highest 
honors — the academic diploma in his hand, 
the academic laurel on his head. And better 
than all these, I have seen him, too, as he 
wore in the presence of this whole commu- 
nity the christian's crown of righteousness — 
the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, 
and yet of a spirit which was noble, gener- 
ous, and brave in every manly impulse. 

And now I am here to join with you 
in this" tearful tribute to his memory, as 
with reverent hands we bear his body to 
the burial, when, in the order of nature, it 
would be so much more fitting that he should 
help to perform these last sad offices for me. 
Surely, in the presence of a spectacle like 
this, when a young man falls in the full 
flush of his athletic strength, we are called 
to read with a new pathos the lesson of our 
mortality, while a new emphasis is given 
to that sublime declaration with which the 
Apostle Paul transfers our unfading hopes 



Trihute 

to his 

memory. 



i 



*■ 



334 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Death not 

a strange 

thing. 



*- 



and our unfailing expectations to the k ' Bless- 
ed and only Potentate, the King of kings 
and the Lord of lords, who only hath immor- 
tality." Change and decay are indeed writ- 
ten on every created thing, and the choicest 
emblems of human frailty are found in that 
which is brightest and fairest — in the grass 
which withers and in the flower which fall' 
eth away. We all do fade as a leaf. Alas! 
in this vale of tears there is nothing so com- 
mon, nothing so universal, as death, and 
when one of our own poets would gather 
the phenomena of earth into a single view, 
which should be at once the most compre- 
hensive and the most striking, it was a 
"Thanatopsis," a "Vision of Death," which 
unfolded itself to his sight. 

"All that tread 
The globe are but a handful to the tribes 
That slumber in its bosom." 

And yet, compared with death, there is 
nothing of which we can say that it is so 
singular, so individual, so unique. This 
King of Terrors is unique in the solemn 
grandeur with which he comes to every liv- 
ing soul; unique in the personal summons 
which he sounds in every human ear: "It 



■^ 



%+■ 



MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 



* 



335 



is appointed unto men once to die, and after 
that the judgment"; unique in the demand 
he makes on the tenderest of human sensi- 
bilities and the most sacred of human affec- 
tions. 

And standing as we do to-day around 
a bier which reminds us of all that is most 
inevitable, and all that is most touching in 
human calamity — of hopes blasted in the 
bud just as they were ready to burst into 
blossom, and just as they gave rich promise 
of the fullest fruitage — it only remains for 
us to decide the point of view from which 
we shall survey this great affliction. For 
there are two very distinct points of view 
from which it may be contemplated; as in 
the physical world there are two very dis- 
tinct horizons within which we may bound 
our vision — the horizon of earth, and the 
horizon of the sky. Beyond this horizon of 
earth, within which are comprised the toil 
and trouble of human conflict, the sights 
and sounds of human woe, we can project 
our thoughts to that wider and higher hor- 
izon which moves among the stars — the 
unsetting stars in the infinite dome of the 
sky. And so, as a French christian has 



*■ 



Two 

horizons. 



* 



* 



336 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Prom 
earth to 
heaven. 



*■ 



reminded us, our life in the moral world is 
hedged about by these same two horizons — 
the horizon of earth and the horizon of 
heaven. Within the former of these hori- 
zons we see to-day nought but the signs 
of grief — garlands laid upon a coffin, a 
family clothed in the habiliments of mourn- 
ing, a whole assembly dissolved in tears. 
But within the latter of these horizons we 
see a christian pilgrim who has laid down 
the staff of the exile to bear the victor's 
palm in the streets of the New Jerusalem, 
"where there shall be no more death, neither 
sorrow nor cr}ang; neither shall there be 
any more pain, for the former things are 
passed away." I am sure, then, that I do 
but speak the word which springs unbidden 
to your lips, as the sentiment of its truth 
lies deep and strong in your hearts, when 
I say that we must find our consolation 
to-day within the realm where our young 
brother, whom we mourn — but whom we 
strangely mourn — has found his rest and 
peace — within the horizon of heaven. For 
when, by the eye of faith, we perceive the 
joy unspeakable, and the peace passing all 
understanding, into which he has entered, 



* 



*■ 



•>R 



MEMORIAL ADDRESS. 



337 



now that he has passed "within the vail," 
we can mingle our praises and our thanks- 
givings with these our tearful regrets. He 
will never again come back to us, but we can 
go to him. 



*■ 



* 



*■ 



338 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNKT. 



* 



Sunday 
School 
worker. 



Tender re- 
gard for 
interests 
of others. 



* 



From the Calvary Baptist Sunday School. 

Washington, Aug. 15, 1880. 
jfgNEAR Friends— 

(3gr^ As officers and teachers of the 

Calvary Baptist Sunday School, of which 
your son was so long a loved and honored 
member and teacher, we desire in this infor- 
mal way to convey to you some feeble ex- 
pression of our sympathy and condolence in 
this the deepest, saddest bereavement of your 
lives. 

We remember with tenderest regard the 
unselfish interest of our departed brother 
in all that pertained to the best welfare of 
those around him — more especially those in 
the church and Sunday School — and we can 
never forget the many acts of kindness and 
benevolence with which the days of his life 
were filled, nor the earnest and untiring- 
zeal he ever manifested in the furtherance 
of the interests of Christ's kingdom. He 
worked well for the Master while it was 
day, and now that he has gone to his re- 
ward, his works live after him. 

We are thankful for the precious life 
that was given us for so short a season, 



* 



*■ 



RESOLUTIONS OF CONDOLENCE. 



339 



* 



and for all its sweet and blessed influences. 
And we do earnestly pray that the consola- 
tions of that religion and of that hope which 
made so bright and joyous the life of your 
loved one, may still comfort and sustain you 
and help you to look forward with joyful 
anticipations to that blissful reunion in "a 
happier and better land, where there is no 
more sorrow nor tears, and where we shall 
forever be with those we love. 
Marcus M. Bartlett, E. B. Curtis, 



H. G. Jacobs, 

Henry Beard, 
D. A. Chambers, 
L. R. Taylor, 
Alice Wurdemann, 
John L. Hazzard, 
D. Haynes, 
F. H. Stickney, 
L. Gilson, 
Emma Higgins, 
M. A. Quincy, 
Annie B. Rose, 
S. M. Plumley, 
H. M. Brush, 
Anna S. Wheeler, 
W. H. Slater, 



Mrs. W. M. King, 

Committee. 

John H. Howlett, 
Anna G. DeLong, 
Geo. S. Prindle, 
Columbia E. Noyes, 
Katie A. Stickney, 
B. F. Bigelow, 
A. N. Condron, 

E. J. GlFFORD, 

S. C Benedict, 
Mrs. J. E. Dexter, 
Mrs. H. E. Albee, 
M. J. Lynch, 
Lizzie B. Jones, 
Carrie A. Clapp, 
T. R. Jones. 



To Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Stickney. 



May the 
hope 
which 
cheered 
him coin- 
fort you. 



Officers 

and 

Teachers. 



* 



* 



340 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Mourn 
his loss. 



A solemn 
promise. 



>fr 



From the Calvary Mission Sunday School. 



IN MEMORIAM. 



Q^± 



tT has pleased the Most High God, in 
furtherance of His wise and loving, 
though to us, inscrutable purposes, to call 
our dearly beloved brother and Superinten- 
dent, W. S. Stickney, from a sphere filled 
with christian activities, to join that great 
multitude, which no man can number, who 
stand before the Throne and before the 
Lamb. 

While reverently we confess the Judge 
of all the earth doeth right, our hearts are 
sad and our eyes suffuse with tears, because 
we shall see his face among us no more. 

Cherishing the remembrance of his ear- 
nest admonitions, his wise counsels, his un- 
wearying labors, his broad charities, his 
deep sympathies, his cheerful and beauti- 
fully symmetrical religious life, we promise, 
by God's help, to show in our faithful atten- 
tion to the interests of Calvary Mission Sun- 
day School a reverence for his memory 
which language may not here express. 

We sorrow with the afflicted parents in 
their sudden and painful bereavement, the 



* 



* 



RESOLUTIONS OF CONDOLENCE. 



* 



341 



severity of which can scarcely be mitigated 
by earthly remedies — for earth has nothing 
to offer lacerated hearts, blighted expecta- 
tions, darkened homes; yet is our sorrow 
turned to joy, as we see in their lives evi- 
dence of that strong faith which led Job to 
exclaim, "Though He slay me, yet will I 
trust Him," and which enables them to en- 
dure, "as seeing Him who is invisible," and 
this to the honor of God and the glory of His 
church. 

Resolved, That the foregoing is tendered 
by the undersigned officers and teachers of 
Calvary Mission Sunday School to Mr. and 
Mrs. Stickney, parents of our late Superin- 
tendent, as a feeble expression of the love 
we bore him, and the sincere sympathy we 
feel for them. 

L. R. Taylor, Ass't Supt. 
J. Mortimer Bessey, Secretary. 
T. R. Jones, Treasurer. 
Teachers. 
John L. Hazzard, Annie R. Burnside, 

Mary A. Quincy, Lillian Spignul, 

Mary J. Bessey, Ella DeMott, 

Wm. M. Fletcher, Ella M. Fraser, 

Mary L. Bischoff, Marian E. Snook, 

Reuben Perrin, Nettie B. Collins, 



©■ 



Borrowing 

yet 
rejoicing. 



Officers 

and 

Teachers. 



* 



*■ 



342 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Eva S. Brooks, 
Mary A. Holbrook, 
G. H. Judd, 
Mary A. Lerch, 
Minnie M. Moran, 



Sallie S. Davis, 
Amanda McMurray, 
James J. Brooks, 
Susie F. McKnew, 
Katie M. Wells, 



A. M. Webster. 



*■ 



* 



*■ 



* 



RESOLUTIONS OF CONDOLENCE. 



343 



From the Covenant Band of the Calvary 
Baptist Church. 



Washington, August 20, 1880. 
St^NEAR Friends— 



<^*f In His infinite wisdom our Heav- 

enly Father has removed from us a dearly 
beloved brother and companion in christian 
work. We mourn the loss of his earnest 
words and wise counsels, yet instinctively 
our hearts turn in sympathy to you whose 
loss is so much greater, and the burden of 
whose grief is so much heavier. 

We cannot refrain, as a Band of which 
he was one of the covenant members, and 
for whose success he labored so faithfully, 
from expressing to you the deep sense of 
loss we feel in this separation, and in the 
knowledge that we no longer share his earn- 
est prayers. Yet, in the midst of our sorrow, 
we rejoice that we have known such a life, 
and trust that the memory of his kind, per- 
sistent, faithful labors shall serve us as an 
inspiration to more faithful, more consecra- 
ted living for the Master. 

To many of us his life was a new revela- 
tion of christian experience, and we have 



*■ 



Loss to 
the Band. 



His mem- 
ory an in- 
spiration. 



tfc< 



* 



* 



344 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



all found new incentives to faith and duty 
in reviewing his words and acts among us. 
To you, who so much better than we, knew T 
and valued this life, this Covenant Band of 
Calvary Church tender their most sincere 
and heartfelt sympathy, and unitedly pray 
that He who gave and hath now taken away 
may prove a never -failing source of comfort 
and consolation. 



Members. 



H. G. Jacobs, 
L. R. Taylor, 
Frank S. Blancharo, 
W. E. Sebree, 
J. M. Bessey, 
R. Perrin, 

George S. Fraser. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Stickney. 



Theophilus Bray, 
Henry H. Kendall, 
Wm. D. Henry, 
Frank H. Jackson, 
J. H. Eldridge, 
Chas. F. Plumley, 



He 



* 



*■ 



■* 



LETTER OF SYMPATHY. 



345 



From the Officers and Teachers of 
Kendall Chapel. 



M; 



®- 



E, the Officers and Teachers of Ken- 
r ^' dall Chapel Sabbath School, remem- 
bering the affectionate interest and faithful 
labors of our christian friends, Mr. and Mrs. 
William Stickney, desire to express our sym- 
pathy with them in the death of their only 
son, William S. Stickney. 

Knowing him as an earnest and suc- 
cessful worker in the Sabbath School, and 
especially endeared to us by the helpful 
influence of his sweet music, as well as by 
his efficiency as a teacher, through years of 
service in our own school, we feel that the 
cause of Christ has lost an able and consci- 
entious advocate. How great that loss, time 
only can show us. Yet we pray that he, 
being dead, may yet speak, and that his 
works may follow him, so that they who 
best loved him may find a comfort and a 
joy in hearing of the glorious things God 
has been pleased to work through his instru- 
mentality. 

Again we tender the assurance of our 
sincere and heartfelt sympathy, and pray 

43 



An earn- 
est worker 
endeared 
by his 
sweet 
music. 



Sincere 
sympathy 



* 



*■ 



346 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Officers 

and 

Teachers. 



* 



that in this, as in all our lives, we may see 
God's goodness, and that He may be, in 
this time of trial, a Comforter indeed. 



Theophilus Bray, 
W. E. Sebree, 
Chas. A. Muddiman, 
Mary A. McMakin, 
C. A. Mahoney, 
Frank S. Blanchard, 
Mrs. S. M. Yeatman, 
Henry H. Kendall, 
Mrs. H. S. Sayre, 
Florence B. Towers. 
Sarah F. Livingston, 
J. H. Johnston, 



H. G. Jacobs, 
Frank H. Jackson, 
John H. Olcott, 
E. J. Gifford, 
L. J. White, 
Mary Hatch, 
S. Bray, 

Carrie A. Clapp, 
Annie B. Rose. 
Effie Burr, 
Alice C. Reynolds, 
Annie E. Muddiman, 



Emma A. Genzerodt. 



* 



©■ 



RESOLUTIONS OF CONDOLENCE. 



* 



347 



fM 



From the Superintendents' Union. 

Washington, D. C, Aug. 13, 1880. 
T a meeting of the Sunday School Su- 
perintendents' Union, held August 9, 
1880, a committee, consisting of Messrs. 
Simpson, LeDuc, and G-atley, were appointed 
to prepare resolutions expressive of the sense 
of the Union at the loss sustained by us in 
the death of William S. Stickney. 

The committee appointed reported the 
following, which were unanimously adopted: 

Whereas, it has pleased the Supreme 
Ruler of the Universe, by his inscrutable but 
all -wise decrees, to remove from a sphere of 
usefulness here on earth to the enjoyments 
of his home in heaven, our respected friend 
and co -laborer, William S. Stickney, there- 
fore be it — 

Resolved, That by the death of Mr. Stick- 
ney this Union has been deprived of a mem- 
ber whose sympathy and aid were ever en- 
listed in the advancement of the interests of 
this Union, and the cause of Sunday School 
work in this city has lost the services of one 
who in a signal manner possessed the ability 
to render efficient service in this branch of 



*■ 



Loss to the 
cause. 



348 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Mourner's 
hope. 



* 



our Master's work, and whose heart and 
hand were ever ready to carry forward the 
work of christian education among the young 
of this District. 

Resolved, That we tender to his bereaved 
family and friends our heart -felt sympathy, 
and while we mourn with them our loss, we 
would point them to Him who is the mourn- 
er's hope and joy, and comfort them and 
ourselves with the full knowledge that our 
departed friend is now enjoying the bliss of 
dwelling in the presence of Him whose ser- 
vice on earth was his chief end and joy. 

Resolved, That these resolutions be en- 
tered upon the minutes of the Union, and 
a copy transmitted to the family of the de- 
ceased. 

A true copy. 

Henry K. Simpson. 

Secretary S. S. Supt. Union. 



LETTER OF SYMPATHY. 



_.£< 



349 



Letter from M. IL Anderson, D. D., 

President of Rochester University. 

Rochester, Aug. 26, 1880. 

EY dear Sir — 
The exhaustion consequent upon 
a year of unusual labor, has prevented me 
from expressing sooner my deep and heart- 
felt sympathy with you and Mrs. Stickney 
in your great and irreparable loss. I knew 
your son as none but a college officer could. 
He passed his four years of college life with- 
out giving me one moment's anxiety regard- 
ing his character or conduct. He was al- 
ways and every where the christian gentle- 
man. He had an unusual amount of the 
rarest of capacities — administrative power. 
This capacity prepares a man for the service 
of his fellow men better than any of the 
forms of what is ordinarily called genius. 
I confidently expected for him a large and 
honorable career in life — a career worthy of 
his descent, and one which would do honor 
to his Alma Mater. But God in His Provi- 
dence has seen fit to take him early to the 
rewards of a blessed life. 

I have no children nor near relatives, 



*- 



The chrixS 

tian gen- 
tleman. 

Adminis- 
trative 
power. 



■s 



* 



350 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Not dead. 



* 



and though I cannot understand your loss, I 
can sympathize with you and Mrs. Stickney 
in the sense of loneliness with which you 
look forward to a childless old age. May 
God in His mercy give you both the grace to 
bear up under this terrible trial of your faith. 

I need not say that Mrs. Anderson joins 
with me in all that I have written in regard 
to the moral excellencies of your son, and in 
sympathy for your suffering. 

Your son is not dead. He lives in the 
respect and love of all who knew him. He 
will always hold an honorable place among 
our Alumni. 

Sincerely yours, 

M. B. Anderson. 
Hon. William Stickney. 



-* 



*■ 



LETTER OF SYMPATHY. 



* 



351 



Letter from James. C. Welling, LL.D. 
v 

The Pitney House, 

Saratoga, Aug. 4, 1880. 

EY dear Mr. Stickney — 
Your letter came to take away 
my last ground of hope, for until it came, I 
still hoped there might be some mistake in 
the newspaper paragraph which fell under 
my eyes. 

And now what shall I say to you in 
the presence of this great sorrow? You are 
spending your days and nights in measuring 
the length and breadth and depth of the 
chasm which has so suddenly opened at 
your feet, and in vain may the voice of 
friendship hope, in an hour like this, to di- 
vert your gaze from the dimensions of your 
unspeakable loss. 

It has always seemed to me that the 
friends of the stricken patriarch Job acted 
wisely when, in sight of the wreck and ruin 
which had come to darken his life, they sat 
down by his side and opened not their 
mouths. The best homage, perhaps, which 
I can pay to your affliction, would be the 
homage of a tender and respectful silence; 



A deep 
chasm. 



Sympathy 
of silence 



*■ 



* 



* 



_>jl 



352 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



for words can bring no solace to the heart 
that is withered and smitten like the grass of 
the fields. 

And yet, even in this hour of your an- 
guish, I may whisper in your ears the words 
of an old German hymn which always come 
to my thoughts when the grave opens to 
swallow my own hopes or the hopes of my 
friends. The purport of the lines is this: 
"Our pathway in life lies over the graves 
of those most dear to us, so long as we keep 
our eyes fixed on the earth, but when we lift 
our eyes heavenward, we see that it also lies 
beneath the unsetting stars of the Divine 
promises." 

You have indeed been greatly afflicted 
in the death of your beloved boy, in the full 
flush of his manly youth, but God has also 
greatly honored you both in his exempla- 
ry christian life, and now, in saving him 
from the heat and burden of a long life, by 
giving him at once an early entrance into 
the kingdom of heaven. We shall all soon 
be called to lay down the burden of life's 
sorrow at the portals of the tomb, and happy 
will it be for us if the portal of our graves 
shall have, like his. an outlook on the cross, 



Stars of 
promise. 



A. blessing 



*■ 



* 



©■ 



■© 



LETTER OF SYMPATHY. 



353 



and the open gate of ^the Father's house, 
with its many mansions. Earth has no long- 
er any sorrows for him whom you mourn, 
and earth has no sorrows for you "which 
heaven cannot cure." Meanwhile you must 
try to walk through this thick darkness by 
the light of the stars which are still shining 
over your head, albeit you can scarcely see 
them while your eyes are filled with tears. 

Of course I shall wish to stand by your 
side when you are called to place the remains 
of your dear son in their last resting place. 
I can reach Washington in a day from Sara- 
toga, and I pray you to give me timely no- 
tice of the funeral. 

Convey, I beg, my heartfelt sympathies 
and words of condolence to Mrs. Stickney, 
and invoking for you both the consolations 
of the great All -Father, who is most kind 
when to the eye of sense he seems most 
stern, I remain, my dear Mr. Stickney, 

Your sympathizing friend and brother, 
James C. Welling. 



No sorrow 

for the 

dead. 



u 



* 



* 



354 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Bewil- 
dered. 



An aching' 

lie art. 



* 



Letter from James J. Brooks, Esq. 

Washington, D. C. Sept. 4, 1880. 
/|®f Y dear Mr. Stickney — 
ij^J^ Your unexpected but welcome 

letter, dated Sept. 2, is this moment received. 
I have read it with weeping eyes, and if, in 
writing on the spur of the moment and out 
of the depths of a sorrowful heart, I should 
appear incoherent or heterodox in my utter- 
ances, I beg you to impute it not to my lack 
of faith in God's justice, wisdom, love, or 
mercy. 

That I have not had one word of comfort 
to utter either to you or your dear wife, is 
solely due to the fact that I was awe - stricken 
and, shall I say, confounded at this unlooked 
for, mysterious phase of God's dealings with 
those who love Him. The more I thought 
over it, the more my head and heart ached, , 
and as I stood facing the sad dispensation, 
I confess I discovered how very weak my 
faith was, nor could I, in such a frame, dare 
to mock your grief by uttering words of com- 
fort that were not born of an intelligent, 
whole-souled trust in the Almighty God. 
So, I say it, at the same time praying for 



* 



*• 



LETTER OF SYMPATHY. 



■^ 



355 



forgiveness of God, I * laid my hand upon 
my mouth and only wept and wondered. 

I lost a sweet little girl, Mary, in her 
fifth year. As she sickened, I prayed God 
to take me and spare her. I did not ask 
that His will be done. The instinct that 
prompted the prayer was of His planting. 
1 cannot think He saw sin in the petition, 
but He took the child. I have lived to firmly 
believe that His way was the best for her 
and for me. I know what have been your 
thoughts. How gladly would the parents 
have relinquished all except immortal life 
to save the now sainted one for a few more 
years of labor here for Christ. But He for 
whom your boy labored saw all; He knows 
all; He marked his seed -sowing, his prayers, 
his charities, his mature christian life, and 
He said, "Come up higher!" And may it 
not be in reserve for the dear parents of the 
departed to realize, even on this earth, that 
His ways, though now inscrutable, are the 
best? 

I cannot hope to increase your know- 
ledge of the commands or the promises of 
God as given in the Scriptures, yet I am 
moved to request you to read Ezekiel, chap- 



*■ 



God 
knows all. 



* 



*■ 



356 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Earnest- 
ness and 
self -sac- 
rifice. 



Not for- 
gotten. 



* 



ter 24, verses 15, 16, and 18, and may you 
be led to feel that it is a message from God 
to you. 

I loved your boy for his earnestness and 
self-sacrifice in the christian work, and as I 
sat and listened to his expositions of the 
great truths embodied in the plan of Re- 
demption through the crucified One, I felt 
as though they were such revelations as only 
the Spirit of God could impart — so simple, 
yet so convincing. I felt it a great privilege 
to be admitted as a co -worker with him. I 
knew he loved me, and I asked for nothing 
but to do his bidding as a teacher in the 
Calvary Mission Sunday School. 

Should it please God to restore you and 
your dear wife to us in health, and with 
that peace in your hearts "which passeth 
all understanding," do not think, when you 
see cheerful faces and hear resonant voices 
in praise, that he is forgotten. His memory 
will long remain as a sweet fragrance in 
the hearts of old and young who have ever 
been in school and church fellowship with 
him, while the extent of the influence of 
his godly life shall be fully known only in 
the Judgment of the Great Day. 



* 



©■ 



LETTER OF SYMPATHY. 



* 



1 K>y 



I fear to weary you with my words, but 
I cannot close without assuring you of the 
blessed influence already exerted by your 
deportment before the church and the world 
since your affliction came. 

While the lines of sorrow have ploughed 
deep into your soul, people see that your 
faith is still centred in the living God, and 
He evidently intends you shall honor him 
in teaching by example what that living 
faith is which enabled Job to exclaim — 
"Though He slay me, yet will I trust in 
Him." 

I thank you for so kind a remembrance 
of mine and me. Your affliction was a 
household sorrow with us. Commending 
you to Him who "doth not afflict willingly, 
nor grieve the children of men," I am 
Your sympathizing friend, 

James J. Brooks. 
Lake Mohonk, K Y. 

My family will be pleased to hear your 
letter. 



*■ 



Lesson of 
affliction. 



■* 



* 



358 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Rare 
qualities. 



The deso- 
late home. 



* 



Letter from Hon. Lot M. Morrill, 

Member of the First Ute Commission. 

Augusta, Oct. 20, 1880. 
ON. Wm. Stickney — 

My dear Sir — I read in the 
paper you sent, with deep regret, the sad 
news of the death of 'your son, and wrote 
you a letter of condolence for the great sor- 
row that had overshadowed your house. 

I had had but slight acquaintance with 
William until associated with him on the 
Ute Commission, when I soon came to know 
and appreciate those qualities of disposition, 
temper, and character which shone through 
and revealed his moral life; and to know 
one void of sensuality, malignity, and mis- 
anthropy, and whose life ran on a plane 
above that of vanity and conceit. 

The sense of bereavement in the death of 
a life so young and full of promise, will, in- 
deed, be most poignant in the home he loved so 
well, and in which he was so greatly beloved, 
and will find expression, also, wherever he was 
known, for the gentleness, the refinement, and 
courtesy of his nature. I am, my dear sir, 
Very sincerely and truly yours, 

Lot M. Morrill. 



* 



* 



RESOLUTIONS OF CONDOLENCE. 



■* 



'SoU 



From the Ute Commission. 



i T a meeting of the Ute Commission. 



Qfe held at Los Pinos Agency, July 21, 
1880, J. B. Bowman, A. B. Meacham, and 
J. J. Russell were appointed a committee to 
give expression of the feelings of the Ute 
Commission in regard to the death of W. S. 
Stickney, Secretary of the Commission. The 
following were adopted: 

The death of our friend and associate, 
occurring so unexpectedly, so far from his 
home and kindred, while in the faithful dis- 
charge of duty, and amid hopes and prom- 
ises of an active and useful manhood, im- 
presses us with a profound sense of our loss 
and of the uncertainty of human life, and of 
our obligations to the Supreme Ruler of the 
Universe. 

Resolved, That we can but express our 
admiration for his manly qualities and chris- 
tian virtues that had endeared him to every 
member of the Commission. That we de- 
plore his loss as a friend and an officer of the 
Commission. 

Resolved. That we deeply sympathize 
with the bereaved parents and friends of 



*■ 



Profound 

sense of 

loss. 



Admira- 
tion for 
manly 
qualities. 



* 



360 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■* 



Insepara- 
ble loss. 



Consola- 
tion. 



Appreci- 
ation of 
tributes 

to his 
memory. 



©■ 



the deceased in the irreparable loss, which, 
we trust, may be alleviated in some degree 
by the assurance that he was surrounded by 
friends and physicians who did all in their 
power to alleviate his sufferings in sickness 
and perform for him the sad office of placing 
his body to rest in a quiet grave. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolu- 
tions be transmitted to the parents of our 
deceased friend, and that they be spread up- 
on the records of the Commission, and a 
copy be furnished to the Washington Repub- 
lican, Washington Star, Washington Post. 
and the Council Fire. 

J. B. Bowman, 
A. B. Meacham, 
J. J. Russell. 

It would swell this volume to too large 
proportions, if all the letters of tender sym- 
pathy, and resolutions of respect for the 
memory of our son, received from kind 
friends were inserted. Suffice it to say, that 
the tribute to his worth thus given, as well 
as in the many references to him in the 
public prints, is a consolation to his sorrow- 
ing parents. 



* 



* 



CHAPTER XI. 



WILL'S BIBLE. 



"'I AM with YOU ALWAY.' These words have volumes of meaning 
and worlds of comfort to me." 

— Extract from one of his letters, August sj, 1873. 

Here is the spring where waters fiowe, 

To quench our heate of sinne; 
Here is the tree where trueth doth grow, 

To lead our lives therein; 
Here is the judge that stints the strife, 

Where men's devices faile; 
The tidings of salvation deare 

Come to our eares from hence; 
The fortress of our faith is here, 

And shield of our defence. — 1594- 



i£ & 



* 



* 



WILL S BIBLE. 



363 



iTri T IS diligent, critical, systematic, and 
■vi^ thoughtful study of the Bible is well 
known. He began to read it in his early 
youth, and continued until the close of life. 

The habit was formed, when young, of 
reading it morning and night, which neither 
the presence of company, engagements, nor 
any thing but absolute necessity was per- 
mitted to interrupt. 

The marginal annotations, corrections, 
references, historical allusions, varied inter- 
pretations, and comments made upon the 
copy he constantly carried since 1866, give 
evidence of careful research and thoughtful 
study. 

He loved to feed upon its precious prom- 
ises; meditate upon its sublime utterances; 
and learn its practical lessons, that he might 
be thoroughly furnished for daily duties. 

Pasted on the top of the inside cover is 
this line: 

"What have you done for Christ to-day?'' 

Following this, is the line of descent of the 
Herod family. 

Upon the top of the first blank leaf, and 
directly opposite the question, "What have 



Study of 
Bible. 



Evidence: 
of re- 
search. 



* 



* 



304 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Admoni- 
tion and 
promise. 



Precepts. 



you done for Christ to-day?" are the words, 
always precious to him — "I will never leave 
thee, nor forsake thee." Thus exhortation 
to service for his Lord, and promise of His 
presence, are placed side by side, for the 
direction and the joy of his life. 

Next comes a printed slip, pasted in, on 
which are the following precepts : 

''Keep good company, or none. 

''Never be idle; if your hands cannot be 
usefully employed, attend to the cultivation 
of your mind. 

"Always speak the truth. 

"Make few promises. 

"Live up to your engagements. 

"Keep your secrets, if you have any. 

"When you speak to a person, look him 
in the face. 

"Good company and good conversation 
are the very sinews of virtue. 

"Good character is above all things else. 
Your character cannot be essentially injured, 
except by your own acts. 

"If any one speaks evil of you, let your 
life be such that none will believe him. 

" Drink no intoxicating liquors. 



hi 



WILL S BIBLE. 



■* 



365 



' ' Ever live (misfortunes excepted) within 
your income. 

"When you retire to bed, think over 
what you have been doing during the day. 

* ' Make no haste to be rich, if you would 
prosper. Small and steady gains give com- 
petency, with tranquillity of mind. 

"Never play at any game of chance. 

"Avoid temptation through fear you 
may not withstand it. 

"Earn money before you spend it. 

"Never run into debt, unless you see a 
way to get out again. 

"Never borrow if you can possibly avoid 
it. 

' ' Do not marry until you are able to sup- 
port a wife. 

"Never speak evil of any one. 

"Be just before you are generous. 

"Keep yourself innocent, if you would 
be happy. 

"Save, when you are young, to spend 
when you are old." 

To the above is added, in his own writ- 
ing, "Be polite." 



*■ 



* 



*■ 



366 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. 



STICKNEY. 



The "Eu- 
reka chap- 
tei\" 



*■ 



On the next blank page is a printed slip, 
containing "Facts about the Bible/' 
Written on the margin: 

"He who walks according to God's words 
acts wisely and happily; but he who goes 
according to his head, acts unwisely and to 
no profit." — Luther's Bible. 

The first chapter of John he designates 
the "Eureka chapter." 

At the beginning of Psalm cxxxi: 

"A proud heart and a lofty mountain 
are never fruitful." — Ournall. 

On margin of Psalm cxlv. verse 13: 

"Inscription over door of great mosque 
at Damascus: 'Thy Kingdom is an everlast- 
ing Kingdom.'" 

On margin of chapter xiv. of Isaiah, 12th 
verse: 

"Compare Milton P. L.. B. 5. Satan's 
rebellion : 

"'0 Lucifer, son of the Morning! how 
art thou cut down to the ground, which didst 
weaken the nations. ,,, 



+3 



*■ 



WILL S BIBLE. 



■W 



367 



The following notes on the margin show 
the dates of his reading the Bible through in 
course: 

•'Began O. T., 2, 22, '75. 
"Began O. T., 4, 20, '78. 
•'Began O. T., 4, 1, '80. 
" Began K T., 2, 12, '78, finished 6, 21, '78. 
" 6, 22, '78, " 1,6, '79. 
" 1,7, '79, •' 9, 23, '79, 

9, 24, '79, " 6, 9, '80. 
6, 10, '80." 

Showing he had read through the Old Testa- 
ment three times, and the New Testament 
five times, since February 22, 1875. 

On the first blank leaf, at the end, is the 
following, in his writing: 

"There is no other actual misfortune, 
except this only — not to have God for our 
friend." 

"Isaiah, xl: 31." 

"Walk with the Lord! along the road your strength he will 

renew; 
Wait on the everlasting God, and He will wait on you! 
Aspiring eyes ye still shall raise, and heights sublime explore; 
Like eagles, ye shall sunward gaze; like eagles, heavenward 

soar. " 



* 



Record of 
reading. 



* 



368 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



Verses. 



Pass this 

way but 

once. 



Prophetic. 



*■ 



"To thme own self be true, 
And it must follow, as the night the day, 
Thou canst not then be false to any man." 

"Whatever weakens your reason, im- 
pairs the tenderness of your conscience, 
obscures your views of God, or takes off the 
relish of spiritual things — in short, whatever 
increases the authority of your body over 
your mind, that is sin to you, however inno- 
cent it may be in itself." 

"Our sufficiency is of God." 

"The discord is within which jars 
So sadly in life's song. 
'T is we, not they, who are in fault 
When others seem so wrong." 

' ' I expect to pass through this world but 
once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I 
can show, or any good thing I can do any 
fellow- human being, let me do it now — let 
me not defer nor neglect it, for I will not 
pass this way again." 

The following, which seems almost pro- 
phetical of his sudden departure, was written 
by him on the blank leaves of his Bible but a 
few months before his death: 



* 



MI- 



wills BIBLE. 



•* 



369 



" When far from the hearts, where our fondest thoughts centre, 
Denied for a time their loved presence to share, 
In spirit we meet, when the closet we enter, 
And hold sweet communion together in prayer. 

"Then why should one thought of anxiety seize us, 

Though distance divide us from those whom we love, 
They rest in the covenant mercy of Jesus, 

Their prayers meet with ours in the mansions above. 

"Oh, sweet bond of friendship! whate'er may betide us, 
Though on life's stormy billow our barks may be driven, 
Though distance or trial or death may divide us, 
Eternal reunion awaits us in heaven! " 

A large number of verses are marked in 
different parts of his Bible, some of which I 
have copied, and grouped under different 
subjects. To him they were precious texts. 
I have given them (one for each day in the 
year), with the hope that they may thus 
prove a sort of daily food to his friends and 
former associates in the Sabbath School. In 
some instances, passages which he had writ- 
ten in the margin are given with the text: 



Marked 
verses. 



Daily 

food. 



* 



* 



370 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



•* 



January 1. 
Thou, God, seest me. — Gen., xvi: 13. 

January 2. 
And thou shalt take no gift; for the gift 
blindeth the wise and perverteth the words 
of the righteous. — Ex., xxiii: 8. 
January 3. 
The fathers shall not be put to death for 
the children; neither shall the children be 
put to death for the fathers; every man shall 
be put to death for his own sin. — Deut.. 
xxiv: 16. 

January 4. 
Be ye strong, therefore, and let not your 
hands be weak; for your work shall be re- 
warded. — II. Ch., xv: 7. 

January 5. 
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be 
at peace; thereby good shall come unto thee. 
— Job, xxii: 21. 

January 6. 
Receive, I pray thee, the law from his 
mouth and lay up his words in thine heart. — 
Job, xxii: 22. 

January 7. 
Some trust in chariots and some in 



* 



■* 



*■ 



WILL S BIBLE. 



* 



371 



horses, but we will remember the name of 
the Lord our God. — Ps. xx: 7. 
January 8. 
Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, 
and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I 
say, on the Lord. — Ps. xxvii: 14. 
January 9. 
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he 
shall sustain thee; he shall never suffer the 
righteous to be moved. — Ps. lv: 22. 
January 10. 
Though thy beginning was small, yet 
thy latter end should greatly increase. — Job, 
viii: 7. 

January 11. 
They that seek the Lord shall not want 
any good thing. — Ps. xxxiv: 10. 
January 12. 
The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth 
and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 
— Ps. xxxiv: 17. 

January 13. 
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a 
broken heart, and saveth such as be of a con- 
trite spirit. — Ps. xxxiv: 18. 
January 14. 
Many are the afflictions of the righteous. 



*- 



12 



13 



£> 



:37^ 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



» 



but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. — 
Ps. xxxiv: 19. 

January 15. 
None of them that trust in him shall be 
desolate. — Ps. xxxiv: 22. 

January 16. 
God is our refuge and strength, a very 
present help in trouble. — Ps. xlvi: 1. 
January 17. 
Call upon me in the day of trouble; I 
will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. 

— Ps. 1: 15. 

January 18. 
And he was afraid and said, How dread- 
ful is this place! this is none other but the 
house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 

— Gen., xxviii: 17. 

January 19. 
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken 
away; blessed be the name of the Lord. — 
Job, i: 21. 

January 20. 
There the wicked cease from troubling, 
and there the weary be at rest. — Job, iii: 17. 
January 21. 
Behold, happy is the man whom God 



•in 



* 



* 



WILLS BIBLE. 



* 



373 



22 



28 



correcteth; therefore despise not thou the 
chastening of the Almighty. — Job, v: 17. 

January 22. 
Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of 
the tongue; neither shalt thou be afraid of 
destruction when it cometh. — Job. v: 21. 
January 23. 
I would not live alway; let me alone; for 
my days are vanity. — Job, vii: 16. 
January 24. 
What is man, that thou shouldst mag- 
nify him, and that thou shouldest set thine 
heart upon him? — Job, vii: 17. 
January 25. 
I know it is so of a truth; but how 
should man be just with God? — Job, ix: 2. 
January 26. 
He is wise in heart and mighty in 
strength; who hath hardened himself against 
him. and prospered? — Job, ix: 4. 
January 27. 
For I know that my Redeemer liveth, 
and that he shall stand at the latter day 
upon the earth.— Job, xix: 25. 
January 28. 
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine 



25 



* 



# 



*■ 



374 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



29 



84 



eyes shall behold, and not another. — Job, 
xix: 27. 

January 29. 

How oft is the candle of the wicked put 
out? and how oft cometh their destruction 
upon them? God distributeth sorrows in his 
anger. — Job, xxi: 17. 

January 30. 

Thou wilt show me the path of life; in 
thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right 
hand there are pleasures forevermore. — Ps. 
xvi: 11. 

January 31. 

Oh, how great is thy goodness, which 

thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; 

which thou hast wrought for them that trust 

in thee before the sons of men. — Ps. xxxi: 19. 

February 1. 
I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and 
delivered me from all my fears. — Ps. xxxiv: 4. 

February 2. 
The angel of the Lord encampeth round 
about them that fear him, and delivereth 
them. — Ps. xxxiv: 7. 

February 3. 
() taste and see that the Lord is good; 



*■ 



WILL S BIBLE. 



* 



375 



blessed is the man that trusteth in him. — 
Ps. xxxiv: 8. 

February 4. 
The eyes of the Lord are upon the right- 
eous, and his ears are open unto their cry. — 
Ps. xxxiv: 15. 

February 5. 
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; 
a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou 
wilt not despise. — Ps. li: 17. 
February 6. 
What time I am afraid, I will trust in 
thee.— Ps. lvi: 3. 

February 7. 
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and 
there is none upon earth that I desire besides 
thee. — Ps. lxxiii: 25. 

February 8. 
For promotion cometh neither from the 
east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 
— Ps. lxxv: 6. 

February 9. 
But God is the judge; he putteth down 
one and setteth up another. — Ps. lxxv: 7. 
February 10. 
Thou didst cause judgment to be heard 



* 



-# 



*■ 



376 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■a 



from heaven: 
— Ps. lxxvi: 



the earth feared, and was still. 



*- 



February 11. 

When he slew them, then they sought 
him; and they returned and inquired early 
after God. 

And they remembered that God was 
their rock, and the high God their redeemer. 
— Ps. lxxviii: 34, 35. 

February 12. 
Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. — 
Ps. lxxxi: 10. 

February 13. 
Oh that my people had hearkened unto 
me, and Israel had walked in my ways! — Ps. 
lxxxi: 13. 

February 14. 
I should soon have subdued their ene- 
mies, and turned my hand against their ad- 
versaries. — Ps. lxxxi: 14. 

February 15. 

Blessed is the man whose strength is in 
thee. 

They go from strength to strength; every 
one of them in Zion appeareth before God. — 
Ps. lxxxiv: 5, 7. 



■*■ 



©■ 



WILL S BIBLE. 



* 



377 



February 16. 
For a day in thy courts is better than a 
thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in 
the house of my God, than to dwell in the 
tents of wickedness. — Ps. lxxxiv: 10. 

February 17. 
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the 
Lord will give grace and glory; no good 
thing will he withhold from them that walk 
uprightly. — Ps. lxxxiv: 11. 

February 18. 

Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that 
trusteth in thee. — Ps. lxxxiv: 12. 

February 19. 

1 will set him on high, because he hath 
known my name. — Ps. xci: 14. 

Written on the margin : 

Very great is the value God sets on his 
name; and very great the importance he at- 
taches to the knowledge of it. His name is 
the declaration of his character as the Lord 
God, merciful and gracious. — Sibbs. 

February 20. 
Harden not your heart, as in the provo- 
cation, and as in the day of temptation in 
the wilderness. — Ps. xcv: 8. 



M- 



* 



* 



378 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



53 



February 21. 
For he commandeth, and raiseth the 
stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves 
thereof. — Ps. cvii: 25. 

February 22. 
They mount up to the heaven, they go 
down again to the depths; their soul is 
melted because of trouble. — Ps. cvii: 26. 
February 23. 
Then they cry unto the Lord in their 
trouble, and he bringeth them out of their 
distresses. — Ps. cvii: 28. 

February 24. 
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the 
waves thereof are still. — Ps. cvii: 29. 
February 25. 
Then are they glad because they be 
quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired 
haven. — Ps. cvii: 30. 

February 26. 
The Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is thy 
shade upon thy right hand. — Ps. cxxi: 5. 

February 27. 
The Lord shall preserve thy going out 
and thy coming in from this time forth, and 
even for evermore. — Ps. cxxi: 8. 



56 



58 



* 



■* 



*■ 



WILL S BIBLE. 



■* 



379 



February 28. 

Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine 
eyes lofty. — Ps. cxxxi: 1. 

On the margin: 

A proud heart and a lofty mountain are 
never fruitful. — Gurnall. 

March 1. 
Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. 

— Ps. cxlv: 13. 

On the margin: 

Inscription over door of the great mosque 
at Damascus. 

March 2. 
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call 
upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 

— Ps. cxlv: 18. 

March 3. 
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear 
him; He also will hear their cry and will 
save them. — Ps. cxlv: 19. 

March 4. 
The Lord preserveth the strangers; he 
relieveth the fatherless and widow; but the 
way of the wicked he turneth upside down. 

— Ps. cxlvi: 9. 



*■ 



60 



61 



* 



380 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



March 5. 
He healeth the broken in heart and bind- 
eth up their wounds. — Ps. cxlvii: 3. 

March 6. 
The Lord taketh pleasure in them that 
fear him; in those that hope in his mercy. 

— Ps. cxlvii: 11. 
March 7. 

Let every thing that hath breath praise 
the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. — Ps. cl: 6. 

March 8. 
A wise man will hear, and will increase 
learning; and a man of understanding shall 
attain unto wise counsels. — Prov., i: 5. 
March 9. 
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of 
knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and 
instruction. — Prov., i: 7. 

March 10. 
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, 
and forsake not the law of thy mother.- — 
Prov., i: 8. 

March 11. 
Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell 
safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. 

— Prov., i: 33. 



68 



* 



* 



%<■ 



WILL S BIBLE. 



* 



181 



March 12. 
My son, forget not my law; but let thine 
heart keep my commandments. — Prov., iii: 1. 

March 13. 
For length of days and long life and 
peace, shall they add to thee. — Pro v., iii: 2. 
March 14. 
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; 
bind them about thy neck; write them upon 
the table of thine heart. — Prov., iii: 3. 
March 15. 
So shalt thou find favor and good under- 
standing in the sight of God and man. — 
Prov., iii: 4. 

March 16. 
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; 
and lean not unto thine own understanding. 
— Prov., iii: 5. 

March 17. 
In all thy ways acknowledge him and he 
shall direct thy paths. — Prov., iii: 6. 
March 18. 
Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the 
Lord, and depart from evil. — Prov., iii: 7. 
March 19. 
My son, let not them depart from thine 



* 



72 



76 



-* 



382 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



•* 



80 



eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion. — 
Prov., iii: 21. 

March 20. 
So shall they be life unto thy soul and 
grace unto thy neck. — Prov., iii: 22. 
March 21. 
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, 
and thy foot shall not stumble. — Prov., iii: 23. 

March 22. 
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be 
afraid; yea, thou shalt lie down and thy 
sleep shalt be sweet. — Prov., iii: 24. 
March 23. 
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of 
the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 



83 



: — Prov., iii: 25. 

March 24. 
For the Lord shall be thy confidence and 
shall keep thy foot from being taken. — 
Prov., iii: 26. 

March 25. 
Withhold not good from them to whom 
it is due, when it is in the power of thine 
hand to do it. — Prov., iii: 27. 
March 26. 
Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore 



*- 



* 



*■ 



WILL'S BIBLE. 



* 



383 



88 



get wisdom: and wittf all thy getting, get 
understanding. — Pro v., iv: 7. 

March 27. 
Exalt her and she shall promote thee: 
she shall bring thee to honor when thou 
dost embrace her. — Prov., iv: 8. 
March 28. 
The path of the just is as the shining- 
light that shineth more and more unto the 
perfect day. — Prov., iv: 18. 
March 29. 
Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out 
of it are the issues of life. — Prov., iv: 23. 
March 30. 
For the ways of man are before the eyes 
of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings. 
— Prov.. v: 21. 

March 31. 
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and 
shall obtain favor of the Lord. — Prov. , viii : 35. 
April 1. 
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth 
his own soul; all they that hate me love 
death. — Prov., viii: 36. 

April 2. 
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of 



92 



* 



* 



* 



384 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



93 



95 



wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is 
understanding. — Prov., ix: 10. 
April 3. 
The Lord will not suffer the soul of the 
righteous to famish. — Prov., x: 3. 
April 4. 
The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich, 
and he addeth no sorrow with it. — Prov., 
x: 22. 

April 5. 
There is that scattereth, and yet increas- 
eth; and there is that withholdeth more than 
is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. — Prov., 
xi: 24. 

April 6. 
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; 
and he that winneth souls is wise. — Prov., 
xi: 30. 

April 7. 
Behold, the righteous shall be recom- 
pensed in the earth. — Prov., xi: 31. 
April 8. 
There shall no evil happen to the just; 
but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. 
— Prov., xii: 21. 

April 9. 
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh 



*■ 



■* 



*■ 



WILL S BIBLE. 



* 



385 



it stoop; but a good word maketh it glad. — 
Prov., xii: 25. 

April 10. 
The heart knoweth his own bitterness; 
and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his 
joy. — Prov., xiv: 10. 

April 11. 
In all labor there is profit; but the talk 
of the lips tendeth only to poverty. — Prov., 
xiv: 23. 

April 12. 
In the fear of the Lord is strong confi- 
dence; and his children shall have a place of 
refuge. — Prov., xiv: 26. 

April 13. 
Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin 
is a reproach to any people. — Prov., xiv: 34. 
April 14. 
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, 
beholding the evil and the good. — Prov., 
xv : 3. 

April 15. 
Better is little, with the fear of the Lord, 
than great treasure, and trouble therewith. — 
Proy., xv : 10. 

April 16. 
The fear of the Lord is the instruction 



kKr 



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109 



110 



111 



115} 



of wisdom; and before honor is humility. — 
Prov., xv: 33. 

April 17. 
All the ways of a man are clean in his 
own eyes; but the Lord weigh eth the spirits. 
— Prov., xvi: 2. 

April 18. 
When a man's ways please the Lord, he 
maketh even his enemies to be at peace with 
him. — Prov., xvi: 7. 

April 19. 
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, 
sweet to the soul and health to the bones. — 
Prov., xvi: 24. 

April 20. 
He that is slow to anger is better than 
the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, 
than he that taketh a city. — Prov., xvi: 32. 

April 21. 
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness 
therewith, than an house full of sacrifices, 
with strife. — Prov., xvii: 1. 

April 22. 
He that covereth a transgression, seeketh 
love; but he that repeateth a matter, separat- 
eth very friends. — Prov., xvii: 0. 



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April 23. 
A friend loveth at all times, and a broth- 
er is born for adversity. — Prov., xvii: 17. 
April 24. 
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; 
the righteous runneth into it and is safe. — 
Prov., xviii: 10. 

April 25. 
A man that hath friends, must show 
himself friendly; and there is a friend that 
sticketh closer than a brother. — Prov., xviii: 
24. 

April 26. 
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpen- 
eth the countenance of his friend. — Prov., 
xxvii: 17. 

April 27. 
As in water face answereth to face, so 
the heart of man to man. — Prov., xxvii: 19. 
April 28. 
Every word of God is pure; he is a 
shield unto them that put their trust in 
him. — Prov., xxx: 5. 

April 29. 
For God giveth to a man that is good 
in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and 
joy.— Eccl., ii: 26. 



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128 



April 30. 

I know that whatsoever God doeth, it 
shall be forever; nothing can be put to it. 
nor anything taken from it; and God doeth 
it, that men should fear before him. — Eccl., 
iii: 14. 

May 1. 

Better is the end of a thing than the 
beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit 
is better than the proud in spirit. — Eccl.. 
vii: 8. 

May 2. 
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; 
for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. — 
Eccl., vii: 9. 

May 3. 
For there is not a just man upon earth 
that doeth good and sinneth not. — Eccl.. 
vii: 20. 

May 4. 
A wise man's heart is at his right hand: 
but a fool's heart at his left. — Eccl. x: 2. 



L25 



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May 5. 
He that observeth the wind, shall not 
sow; and he that regardeth the clouds, shall 
not reap. — Eccl., xi: 4. 



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May 6. 
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the 
evening withhold not thine hand; for thou 
knowest not whether shall prosper either 
this or that, or whether they both shall be 
alike good. — EccL, xi: 6. 
May 7. 
Though your sins be as scarlet, they 
shall be as white as snow; though they be 
red like crimson, they shall be as wool. — 
Isaiah, i: 18. 

May 8. 
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall 
eat the good of the land. — Isaiah, i: 19. 
May 9. 
Now will I sing to my well -beloved a 
song of my beloved, touching his vineyard. 
My well -beloved hath a vineyard in a very 
fruitful hill. — Isaiah, v: 1. 
May 10. 
And he fenced it, and gathered out the 
stones thereof, and planted it with the choic- 
est vine, and built a tower in the midst of 
it, and also made a wine -press therein; and 
he looked that it should bring forth grapes; 
and it brought forth wild grapes. — Isaiah, 
v: •>. 



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May 11. 
Fear not, neither be faint - hearted. — 
Isaiah, vii: 4. 

May 12. 
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son 
is given, and the government shall be upon 
his shoulder; and his name shall be called 
Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, 
The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 
— Isaiah, ix: 6. 

May 13. 
And a little child shall lead them. — 
Isaiah, xi: 6. 

May 14. 
Thine anger is turned away, and thou 
comfortest me. — Isaiah, xii: 1. 
May 15. 
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, 
and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is 
my strength and my song; he also is become 
my salvation. — Isaiah, xii: 2. 
May 16. 
I will make a man more precious than 
fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge 
of Ophir. — Isaiah, xiii: 12. 
May 17. 
O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art 



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138 



thou cut down to the ground, which didst 
weaken the nations! — Isaiah, xiv: 12. 

On the margin: 

Compare Milton P. L., B. 5, Satan's re- 
bellion. 

May 18. 

Because thou hast forgotten the God of 
thy salvation, and hast not been mindful 
of the Rock of thy strength, therefore shalt 
thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it 
with strange slips. — Isaiah, xvii: 10. 

May 19. 
In the day shalt thou make thy plant 
to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make 
thy seed to nourish; but the harvest shall be 
a heap in the day of grief and of desperate 
sorrow. — Isaiah, xvii: 11. 

May 20. 

And the Lord shall smite Egypt; he shall 

smite and heal it; and they shall return even 

to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of 

them, and shall heal them. — Isaiah, xix: 22. 

May 21. 
He will swallow up death in victory; and 
the Lord God will wipe away tears from off 
all faces. — Isaiah, xxv: 8. 



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143 



144 



145 



146 



May 22. 

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace 
whose mind is stayed on thee; because he 
trusteth in thee. — Isaiah, xxvi: 3. 
May 23. 

Trust in the Lord forever; for in the 
Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. — 
Isaiah, xxvi: 4. 

May 24. 

To whom he said, This is the rest where- 
with ye may cause the weary to rest; and 
this is the refreshing: yet they would not 
hear. — Isaiah, xxviii: 12. 
May 25. 

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as 
this people draw near me with their mouth, 
and with their lips do honor me, but have 
removed their heart far from me, and their 
fear toward me is taught by the precept of 
men: the wisdom of their wise men shall 
perish, and the understanding of their pru- 
dent men shall be hid. — Isaiah, xxix: 13, 14. 
May 26. 

For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy 
One of Israel; In returning and rest shall 
ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence 
shall be your strength. — Isaiah, xxx: 15. 



>£• 



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■54 



393 



May « 27. 
And therefore will the Lord wait, that he- 
may be gracious unto you, and therefore will 
he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon 
you; for the Lord is a God of judgment.— 
Isaiah, xxx: 18. 

May 28. 
He will be very gracious unto thee at the 
voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he 
will answer thee. — Isaiah, xxx: 19. 
May 29. 
And though the Lord give you the bread 
of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet 
shall not thy teachers be removed into a 
corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy 
teachers. — Isaiah, xxx: 20. 
May 30. 
And thine ears shall hear a word behind 
thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it. 
— Isaiah, xxx: 21. 

May 31. 
And my people shall dwell in a peaceable 
habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in 
quiet resting places. — Isaiah, xxxii: 18. 
June 1. 
O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have 
waited for thee: be thou their arm every 



147 



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morning, our salvation also in the time of 
trouble. — Isaiah, xxxiii: 2. 
June 2. 
And Hezekiah received the letter from 
the hand of the messengers, and read it; and 
Hezekiah went up unto the house of the 
Lord, and spread it before the Lord. — Isaiah, 
xxxvii: 14. 

June 3. 
And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord. — 
Isaiah, xxxvii: 15. 

June 4. 
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith 
your God. — Isaiah, xl: 1. 
June 5. 
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and 
cry unto her, that her warfare is accom- 
plished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for 
she hath received of the Lord's hand double 
for all her sins. — Isaiah, xl: 2. 
June 6. 
The voice of him that crieth in the wil- 
derness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 
make straight in the desert a highway for 
our God. — Isaiah, xl: 3. 

June 7. 
Every valley shall be exalted, and every 



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mountain and hill shall be made low; and 
the crooked shall be made straight, and the 
rough places plain. — Isaiah, xl: 4. 
June 8. 
All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness 
thereof is as the flower of the field. — Isaiah, 
xl: 6. 

June 9. 
The grass withereth, che flower fadeth; 
because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon 
it: surely the people is grass. — Isaiah, xl: 7. 
June 10. 
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; 
but the word of our God shall stand forever. 
— Isaiah, xl: 8. 

June 11. 
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: 
he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and 
carry them in his bosom, and shall gently 
lead those that are with young. — Isaiah, 
xl: 11. 

June 12. 
Behold, the nations are as a drop of a 
bucket, and are counted as the small dust 
of the balance. — Isaiah, xl: 15. 
June 13. 
He giveth power to the faint; and to 



* 



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166 



168 



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them that have no might he increaseth 
strength. — Isaiah, xl: 29. 

June 14. 
They that wait upon the Lord shall re- 
new their strength; they shall mount up with 
wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be 
weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. — 
Isaiah, xl: 31. 

June 15. 
Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be 
not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will 
strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, 
I will uphold thee with the right hand of 
my righteousness. — Isaiah, xli: 10. 

June 16. 
But now thus saith the Lord that created 
thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, 
Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee. 
I have called thee by my name; thou art 
mine. — Isaiah, xliii: 1. 

June 17. 
When thou passest through the waters, I 
will be with thee. — Isaiah, xliii: 2. 

June 18. 
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy 
transgressions for mine own sake, and will 
not remember thy sins. — Isaiah, xliii: 25. 






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397 



June 19. 
One shall say, I am the Lord's; and an- 
other shall call himself by the name of Ja- 
cob. — Isaiah, xliv: 5. 

June 20. 
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the 
ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is 
none else.— Isaiah, xlv: 22. 

June 21. 

I have sworn by myself, the word is 
gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and 
shall not return, That unto me every knee 
shall bow, every tongue shall swear. — Isaiah, 
xlv: 23. 

June 22. 

But Zion said. The Lord hath forsaken 
me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. — Isaiah, 
xlix: 14. 

June 23. 

Can a woman forget her sucking child, 
that she should not have compassion on the 
son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet 
wiil I not forget thee. — Isaiah, xlix: 15. 

June 24. 
For the Lord God will help me; therefore 
shall I not be confounded; therefore have I 



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set my face like a flint, and I know that I 
shall not be ashamed. — Isaiah, 1: 7. 
June 25. 
For the mountains shall depart, and the 
hills be removed; but my kindness shall not 
depart from thee, neither shall the covenant 
of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that 
hath mercy on thee. — Isaiah, liv: 10. 
June 26. 
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, 
call ye upon him while he is near. — Isaiah, 
lv: 6. 

June 27. 
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the 
unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him 
return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy 
upon him; and to our God, for he will abund- 
antly pardon. — Isaiah, lv: 7. 
June 28. 
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 
neither are your ways my ways, saith the 
Lord. — Isaiah, lv: 8. 

June 29. 
He that putteth his trust in me shall pos- 
sess the land. — Isaiah, lvii: 13. 
June 30. 
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my 



178 



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soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath 
clothed me with the garments of salvation, 
he hath covered me with the robe of right- 
eousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself 
with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth 
herself with her jewels. — Isaiah, lxi: 10. 
July 1. 

Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in 
the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in 
the hand of thy God. — Isaiah, lxii: 3. 
July 2. 

And it shall come to pass, that before 
they call, I will answer; and while they are 
yet speaking, I will hear. — Isaiah, lxv: 24. 
July 3. 

I said, Thou shalt call me, My father: 
and shalt not turn away from me. — Jer.. 
iii: 19. 

July 4. 

But let him that glorieth. glory in this, 
that he understandeth and knoweth me, that 
I am the Lord which exercise loving -kind- 
ness, judgment, and righteousness, in the 
earth: for in these things I delight, saith the 
Lord. — Jer., ix: 24. 

July 5. 

Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us. and 



183 



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189 



we are called by thy name; leave us not. — 
Jer., xiv: 9. 

July 6. 
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the 
Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. — Jer., 
xvii: 7. 

July 7. 
The heart is deceitful above all things, 
and desperately wicked: who can know it? 
— Jer., xvii: 9. 

July 8. 
I the Lord search the heart, I try the 
reins, even to give every man according to 
his ways, and according to the fruit of his 
doings. — Jer., xvii: 10. 

July 9. 
Be not a terror unto me: thou art my 
hope in the day of evil. — Jer., xvii: 17. 

July 10. 
But the Lord is with me as a mighty 
terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall 
stumble, and they shall not prevail; for they 
shall not prosper; their everlasting confusion 
shall never be forgotten. — Jer., xx: 11. 
July 11. 
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall 



190 



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401 



104 



go and pray unto me, and I will hearken 
unto you. — Jer., xxix: 12. 
July 12. 

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when 
ye shall search for me with all your heart. — 
Jer., xxix: 13. 

July 13. 

And they shall teach no more every man 
his neighbor, and every man his brother, 
saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all 
know me, from the least of them unto the 
greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will 
forgive their iniquity, and I will remember 
their sin no more. — Jer., xxxi: 34. 
July 14. 

Great in counsel, and mighty in work: 
for thine eyes are open upon all the ways 
of the sons of men, to give every one accord- 
ing to his ways, and according to the fruit 
of his doings. — Jer., xxxii: 19. 
July 15. 

And they shall be my people and I will 
be their God. — Jer., xxxii: 38. 
July 16. 

Leave thy fatherless children, I will pre- 
serve them alive; and let thy widows trust 
in me. — Jer.. xlix: 11. 

50 ' 



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201 



203 



204 



* 



July 17. 
He hath made the earth by his power, 
he hath established the world by his wisdom, 
and hath stretched out the heaven by his 
understanding. — Jer., li: 15. 
July 18. 
When he uttereth his voice, there is a 
multitude of waters in the heavens; and he 
causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends 
of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, 
and bringeth forth the wind out of his treas- 
ures. — Jer., li: 16. 

July 19. 
This I recall to my mind, therefore have 
I hope. — Lam., iii: 21. 

July 20. 
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are 
not consumed, because his compassions fail 
not. — Lam., iii: 22. 

July 21. 
They are new every morning: great is 
thy faithfulness. — Lam., iii: 23. 
July 22. 
The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; 
therefore will I hope in him. — Lam., iii: 24. 
July 23. 
The Lord is good unto them that wait 



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will's bible. 



403 



* 



for him, to the soul that seeketh him. — 
Lam., hi: 25. 

July 24. 
It is good that a man should both hope 
and quietly wait for the salvation of the 
Lord. — Lam., hi: 26. 

July 25. 
For the Lord will not cast off forever. 
— Lam., hi: 31. 

July 26. 
But though he cause grief, yet will he 
have compassion according to the multitude 
of his mercies. — Lam., hi: 32. 
July 27. 
For he doth not afflict willingly, nor 
grieve the children of men. — Lam., hi: 33. 
July 28. 
Let us search and try our ways, and turn 
again to the Lord. — Lam., hi: 40. 
July 29. 
For I know the things that come into 
your mind, every one of them. — Ezek., xi: 5. 
July 30. 
I will put a new spirit within you, and I 
will take the stony heart out of their flesh, 
and will give them an heart of flesh. — Ezek., 
xi: 19. 



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215 



216 



July 31. 
That they may walk in my statutes, and 
keep mine ordinances, and do them: and 
they shall be my people, and I will be their 
God.— Ezek., xi: 20. 

August 1. 
When the son hath done that which is 
lawful and right, and hath kept all my 
statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely 
live. — Ezek., xviii: 19. 

August 2. 
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The 
son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, 
neither shall the father bear the iniquity of 
the son: the righteousness of the righteous 
shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the 
wicked shall be upon him. — Ezek., xviii: 20. 

August 3. 
Behold, all souls are mine ; as the soul of 
the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: 
the soul that sinneth. it shall die. — Ezek., 
xviii: 4. 

August 4. 
But if the wicked will turn from all his 
sins that he hath committed, and keep all 
my statutes, and do that which is lawful 



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and right, he shall surely live, he shall not 
die. — Ezek., xviii: 21. 

August 5. 

All his transgressions that he hath com- 
mitted, they shall not be mentioned unto 
him. — Ezek., xviii: 22. 

August 6. 

Cast away from you all your transgres- 
sions, whereby ye have transgressed; and 
make you a new heart and a new spirit; for 
why will ye die, house of Israel? — Ezek., 
xviii: 31. 

August 7. 

For I have no pleasure in the death of 
him that dieth, saith the Lord God: where- 
fore turn yourselves, and live ye. — Ezek., 
xviii: 32. 

August 8. 

Therefore, say unto the house of Israel, 
Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for 
your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine 
holy name's sake, which ye have profaned 
among the heathen, whither ye went. — 
Ezek., xxxvi: 22. 

August 9. 

My people are destroyed for lack of 
knowledge. — Hosea, iv: 6. 



3+ 



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224 



225 



226 



227 



August 10. 
Come, and let us return unto the Lord: 
for he hath torn, and he will heal us. — Ho- 
sea, vi: 1. 

August 11. 
Break up your fallow ground; for it is 
time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain 
righteousness upon you. — Hosea, x: 12. 

August 12. 

Who is wise, and he shall understand 
these things? prudent, and he shall know 
them? for the ways of the Lord are right, 
and the just shall walk in them; but the 
transgressors shall fall therein. — Hosea, xiv: 
9. 

August 13. 

Rend your heart, and not your garments, 
and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is 
gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of 
great kindness. — Joel, ii: 13. 

August 14. 
Seek good, and not evil, that ye may 
live. — Amos, v: 14. 

August 15. 
He hath showed thee, O man, what is 
good; and what doth the Lord require of 



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thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and 
to walk humbly with thy God? — Micah, vi: 8. 

August 16. 
The Lord is good, a strong hold in the 
day of trouble; and he knoweth them that 
trust in him. — Nahum, i: 7. 

August 17. 
Return unto me, and I will return unto 
you, saith the Lord of hosts. — Malachi, hi: 7. 

August 18. 

Bring ye all the tithes into the store- 
house, that there may be meat in mine 
house, and prove me now herewith, saith 
the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the 
windows of heaven, and pour you out a 
blessing, that there shall not be room enough 
to receive it. — Malachi, hi: 10. 
August 19. 

And they shall be mine, saith the Lord 
of hosts, in that day when I make up my 
jewels; and I will spare them, as a man 
spareth his own son that serveth him. — Ma- 
lachi, iii: 17. 

August 20. 

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for re- 
pentance. — Matthew, iii: 8. 



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234 



235 



237 



August 21. 
Think not that I am come to destroy 
the law, or the prophets: I am not come to 
destroy, but to fulfil. — Matthew, v: 17. 

August 22. 
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your 
Father which is in heaven is perfect. — Mat- 
thew, v: 48. 

August 23. 
For where your treasure is, there will 
your heart be also.— Matthew, vi: 21. 
August 24. 
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, 
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; 
but he that doeth the will of my Father 
which is in heaven. — Matthew, vii: 21. 
August 25. 
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more 
value than many sparrows. — Matthew, x: 31. 
August 26. 
Blessed is he whosoever shall not be of- 
fended in me. — Matthew, xi: 6. 
August 27. 
Come unto me, all ye that labor,, and are 
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. — Mat- 
thew, xi: 28. 



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August 28. 
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of 
me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and 
ye shall find rest unto your souls. — Matthew, 
xi: 29. 

August 29. 
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is 
light. — Matthew, xi: 30. 

August 30. 
Out of the abundance of the heart, the 
mouth speaketh. — Matthew, xii: 34. 

August 31. 

Whosoever shall do the will of my Fa- 
ther which is in heaven, the same is my 
brother, and sister, and mother. — Matthew, 
xii: 50. 

September 1. 

And his disciples came, and took up the 
body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. 
— Matthew, xiv: 12. 

September 2. 

Again I say unto you, That if two of you 
shall agree on earth, as touching any thing 
that they shall ask, it shall be done for them 
of my Father which is in heaven. — Matthew, 
xviii: 19. 



* 



•* 



* 



410 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



246 



247 



248 



250 



September 3. 
For where two or three are gathered to- 
gether in my name, there am I in the midst 
of them. — Matthew, xviii: 20. 
September 4. 
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do 
also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive 
not every one his brother their trespasses. — 
Matthew, xviii: 35. 

September 5. 
And all things whatsoever ye shall ask 
in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. — Mat- 
thew, xxi: 22. 

September 6. 
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest 
the prophets, and stonest them which are 
sent unto thee, how often would I have gath- 
ered thy children together, even as a hen 
gathereth her chickens under her wings, and 
ye would not! — Matthew, xxiii: 37. 
September 7. 
Go ye therefore and teach all nations, 
baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; — 
Matthew, xxviii: 19. 

September 8. 
Teaching them co observe all things 



«■ 



■* 



?:+ 



WILL S BIBLE. 



* 



411 



whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, 
I am with you alway, even unto the end of 
the world. — Matthew, xxviii: 20. 

September 9. 
And as many as touched him, were made 
whole. — Mark, vi: 56. 

September 10. 
Therefore I say unto you, What things 
soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that 
ye receive them, and ye shall have them. — 
Mark, xi: 24. 

September 11. 
And what I say unto you, I say unto all, 
Watch. — Mark, xiii: 37. 

September 12. 
Wist ye not that I must be about my 
Father's business? — Luke, ii: 49. 
September 13. 
She hath done what she could. — Mark, 
xiv: 8. 

September 14. 
Every valley shall be filled, and every 
mountain and hill shall be brought low; and 
the crooked shall be made straight and the 
rough ways shall be made smooth; — Luke, 
iii: 5. 



*■ 



* 



©■ 



412 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



258 



25!) 



260 



261 



262 



263 



September 15. 

And all flesh shall see the salvation of 
God. — Luke, iii: 6. 

September 16. 

Give, and it shall be given unto you: 
good measure, pressed down, and shaken 
together, and running over, shall men give 
into your bosom. For with the same meas- 
ure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured 
to you again. — Luke, vi: 38. 

September 17. 
Be not afraid of them that kill the body, 
and after that, have no more that they can 
do. — Luke, xii: 4. 

September 18. 
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall 
fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed, 
hath power to cast into hell; yea. I say unto 
you, Fear him. — Luke, xii: 5. 

September 19. 
For all these things do the nations of the 
world seek after: and your Father knoweth 
that ye have need of these things. — Luke, 
xii: 30. 

September 20. 
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God, 



* 



* 



* 



will's bible. 



* 



413 



and all these things shall be added unto you. 
— Luke, xii: 31. 



September 21. 
But he that knew not, and did commit 
things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten 
with few stripes. For unto whomsoever 
much is given, of him shall be much re- 
quired. — Luke, xii: 48. 

September 22. 
He that is faithful in that which is least, 
is faithful also in much; and he that is un- 
just in the least, is unjust also in much. — 
Luke, xvi: 10. 

September 23. 
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done 
all those things which are commanded you, 
say. We are unprofitable servants: we have 
done that which was our duty to do. — Luke, 
xvii: 10. 

September 24. 
In your patience possess ye your souls. 
— Luke, xxi: 19. 

September 25. 
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, 
that ye may be accounted worthy to escape 
all these things that shall come to pass, and 



264 



2t»: 



266 



267 



208 



©" 



* 



414 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



270 



271 



272 



to 



XXI 



stand before the Son of man. — Luke, 
: 36. 

September 26. 
Why are ye troubled? and why do 
thoughts arise in your hearts? — Luke, xxiv: 
38. 

September 27. 
Search the Scriptures; for in them ye 
think ye have eternal life: and they are they 
which testify of me. — John, v: 39. 

September 28. 
Whosoever committeth sin, is the ser- 
vant of sin. — John, viii: 34. 

September 29. 
And I knew that thou hearest me always : 
but because of the people which stand by, I 
said it, that they may believe that thou hast 
sent me. — John, xi: 42. 

September 30. 
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall 
I say? Father, save me from this hour: but 
for this cause came I unto this hour. — John, 
xii: 27. 

October 1. 
Father, glorify thy name. Then came 
there a voice from heaven, saying, I have 



*■ 



* 



WILL S BIBLE. 



* 



415 



275 



both glorified it, and will glorify it again. — 
John, xii: 28. 

October 2. 
These are written, that ye might believe 
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and 
that believing ye might have life through his 
name. — John, xx: 31. 

October 3. 
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and 
the moon into blood, before that great and no- 
table day of the Lord come. — Acts, ii: 20. 
October 4. 
We ought to obey God rather than men. 
—Acts, v: 29. 

October 5. 
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, 
whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. — Acts, 
v: 30. 

October 6. 
Him hath God exalted with his right hand 
to be a Prince and a Savior. — Acts, v: 31. 
October 7. 
In every nation, he that feareth him and 
worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 
— Acts, x: 35. 

October 8. 
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and 



276 



277 



278 



279 



281 



>fr 



■W 



*■ 



416 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



282 



283 



285 



286 



287 



* 



exhorting them to continue in the faith, and 
that we must through much tribulation enter 
into the kingdom of God. — Acts, xiv: 22. 
October 9. 
What if some did not believe? shall their 
unbelief make the faith of God without ef- 
fect? — Romans, iii: 3. 

October 10. 
For I reckon, that the sufferings of this 
present time are not worthy to be compared 
with the glory that shall be revealed in us. — 
Romans, viii: 18. 

October 11. 
If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the 
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart 
that God hath raised him from the dead, 
thou shalt be saved. — Romans, x: 9. 
October 12. 
Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith 
the Lord. — Romans, xii: 19. 
October 13. 
All things are lawful unto me, but all 
things are not expedient: all things are law- 
ful for me, but I will not be brought under 
the power of any. — I. Corinthians, vi: 12. 
October 14. 
Wherefore, if meat make mv brother to 



* 



WILL S BIBLE. 



* 



LIT 



October 19. 
The God of all comfort, who comforteth 
us in our tribulation, that we may be able 
to comfort them which are in trouble by the 

52 



288 



offend, I will eat no flesh while the world 
standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. — 
I. Corinthians, viii: 13. 

October 15. 

There hath no temptation taken you but 
such as is common to man: but God is faith- 
ful, who will not suffer you to be tempted 
above that ye are able; but will with the 
temptation also make a way to escape, that 
ye may be able to bear it. — I. Corinthians, 
x: 13. 

October 16. 

By the grace of God I am what I am. — 
I. Corinthians, xv: 10. 

October ] 7. 
Be not deceived: Evil communications 
corrupt good manners. — I. Corinthians, xv : 33. 

October 18. 
Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always 
abounding in the work of the Lord, foras- 
much as ye know that your labor is not in 
vain in the Lord. — I. Corinthians, xv: 58. 



292 



* 



fcfr 



418 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



comfort wherewith we ourselves are com- 
forted of God. — II. Corinthians, i: 3, 4. 
October 20. 
We should not trust in ourselves, but in 
God which raiseth the dead. — II. Corinthi- 
ans, i: 9. 

October 21. 
For we must all appear before the judg- 
ment-seat of Christ; that every one may 
receive the things done in his body, accord- 
ing to that he hath done, whether it be good 
or bad. — II. Corinthians, v: 10. 
October 22. 
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, 
we persuade men. — II. Corinthians, v: 11. 
October 23. 
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he 
is a new creature: old things have passed 
away; behold, all things are become new. — 
II. Corinthians, v: 17. 

October 24. 
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, 
as though God did beseech you by us: we 
pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled 
to God. — II. Corinthians, v: 20. 
October 25. 
Be ye not unequally yoked together with 



296 



■m 



* 



* 



©■ 



WILL S BIBLE. 



■* 



419 



299 



300 



301 



unbelievers: for what fellowship hath right- 
eousness with unrighteousness? — II. Corin- 
thians, vi: 14. 

October 26. 
He which soweth sparingly, shall reap 
also sparingly; and he which soweth bounti- 
fully, shall reap also bountifully. — II. Corin- 
thians, ix: 6. 

October 27. 
And God is able to make all grace abound 
toward you. — II. Corinthians, ix: 8. 
October 28. 
For not he that commendeth himself is 
approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. 
— II. Corinthians, x: 18. 

October 29. 
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my 
strength is made perfect in weakness. — II. 
Corinthians, xii: 9. 

October 30. 
Do I seek to please men? for if I yet 
pleased men, I should not be the servant of 
Christ. — Galatians, i: 10. 

October 31. 
Let us not be weary in well-doing: for 
in due season we shall reap if we faint not. — 
Galatians, vi: 9. 



■* 



* 



430 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY 



November 1. 
For by grace are ye saved through faith; 
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of 
God. — Ephesians, ii: 8. 

November 2. 
And are built upon the foundation of the 
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself 
being the chief corner-stone. — Ephesians. 
ii: 20. 

November 3. 
Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to 
yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spir- 
itual songs, singing and making melody 
in your heart to the Lord. — Ephesians, v: 
18, 19. 

November 4. 
Giving thanks always for all things unto 
God and the Father, in the name of our Lord 
Jesus Christ. — Ephesians, v: 20. 
November 5. 
Whatsoever good thing any man doeth, 
the same shall he receive of the Lord. — 
Ephesians, vi: 8. 

November 6. 
It is God which worketh in you both to 
will and to do of his good pleasure. — Philip- 
pians, ii: 13. 



* 



*■ 



WILL S BIBLE. 



* 



421 



November 7. 
I press toward the mark for the prize of 
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. — 
Philippians. iii: 14. 

November 8. 
The peace of God, which passeth all 
understanding, shall keep your hearts and 
minds through Christ Jesus. — Philippians. 
iv: 7. 

November 9. 
I have learned, in whatsoever state I 
am, therewith to be content. — Philippians, 
iv: 11. 

-November 10. 
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also 
ye are risen with him through the faith of 
the operation of God, who hath raised him 
from the dead. — Colossians, ii: 12. 
November 11. 
Forbearing one another, and forgiving- 
one another. — Colossians, iii: 13. 
November 12. 
Above all these things put on charity, 
which is the bond of perfectness. — Colos- 
sians, iii: 14. 

November 13. 
And whatsoever ve do in word or deed. 



311 



312 



313 



314 



815 



-Sit? 



*■ 



* 



*■ 



432 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNET. 



* 



318 



319 



320 



321 



323 



824 



& 



do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. — Colos- 
sians, iii: 17. 

November 14. 
Let your speech be always with grace, 
seasoned with salt, that ye may know how 
ye ought to answer every man. — Colossians, 
iv: 6. 

November 15. 
Study to be quiet and to do your own 
business, and to work with your own hands. 
— I. Thessalonians, iv: 11. 

November 16. 
Rejoice evermore. 

Pray without ceasing. — I. Thessalonians, 
v: 16, 17. 

November 17. 
In every thing give thanks; for this is 
the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning 
you. — I. Thessalonians, v: 18. 
November 18. 
Prove all things. — I. Thessalonians, v: 21. 

November 19. 
Abstain from all appearance of evil. — 
I. Thessalonians, v: 22. 

November 20. 
The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish 



* 



* 



WILL S BIBLE. 



* 



i-Z3 



*■ 



you, and keep you from evil. 
lonians, iii: 3. 



II. Thessa- 



NOVEMBER 21. 

The end of the commandment is charity 
out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, 
and of faith unfeigned. — I. Timothy, i: 5. 

November 22. 
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, 
invisible, the only wise God, be honor and 
glory for ever and ever. Amen. — I. Timo- 
thy, i: 17. 

November 23. 
Who will have all men to be saved, and 
to come unto the knowledge of the truth. — 
I. Timothy, ii: 4. 

November 24. 
For there is one God, and one mediator 
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 

— I. Timothy, ii: 5. 

November 25. 
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on 
eternal life, whereunto thou art also called. 

— I. Timothy, vi: 12. 

November 26. 
Our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abol- 
ished death, and hath brought life and im- 



325 



326 



327 



328 



329 



* 



* 



■* 



424 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



mortality to light through the gospel. — II. 
Timothy, i: 10. 

November 27. 
Therefore endure hardness, as a good 
soldier of Jesus Christ. — II. Timothy, ii: 3. 

November 28. 
Study to show thyself approved unto God, 
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. 
— II. Timothy, ii: 15. 

November 29. 

Preach the word; be instant in season, 
out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with 
all long-suffering and doctrine. — II. Timo- 
thy, iv: 2. 

November 30. 

Young men likewise exhort to be sober- 
minded. In all things shewing thyself a 
pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing 
uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound 
speech that cannot be condemned; that he 
that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, 
having no evil thing to say of you. — Titus, 
ii: 6-0. 

December 1. 

There remaineth therefore a rest to the 
people of G-od. — Hebrews, iv: 9. 



334 



*■ 



* 



*■ 



t& 



WILL S BIBLE. 



425 



December 2. 
For he that is entered into his rest, he 
also hath ceased from his own works, as God 
did from his. — Hebrews, iv: 10. 
December 3. 
Unto them that look for him shall he 
appear the second time without sin unto sal- 
vation. — Hebrews, ix: 28. 

December 4. 
Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. — He- 
brews, x: 9. 

December 5. 
Let us draw near with a true heart, in 
full assurance of faith, having our hearts 
sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our 
bodies washed with pure water. — Hebrews, 
x: 22. 

December 6. 
Let us hold fast the profession of our 
faith without wavering; for he is faithful 
that promised. — Hebrews, x: 23. 
December 7. 
And let us consider one another, to pro- 
voke unto love, and to good works. — He- 
brews, x: 24. 

December 8. 



For ye have need of patience, that, after 

53 



340 



>±<- 



* 



*■ 



426 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



s 



343 



345 



ye have done the will of God, ye might re- 
ceive the promise. — Hebrews, x: 36. 
December 9. 
For yet a little while, and he that shall 
come will come, and will not tarry. — He- 
brews, x: 37. 

December 10. 
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with 
the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures 
of sin for a season. — Hebrews, xi: 25. 
December 11. 
My son, despise not thou the chastening 
of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked 
of him: — Hebrews, xii: 5. 

December 12. 
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. 
and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 
— Hebrews, xii: 6. 

December 13. 
Holiness, without which no man shall see 
the Lord. — Hebrews, xii: 14. 
December 14. 
He hath said, I will never leave thee nor 
forsake thee. — Hebrews, xiii: 5. 
December 15. 
So that we may boldly say. The Lord is 



346 



347 



348 



349 



* 



-& 



& 



WILL S BIBLE. 



* 



427 



my helper, and I will not fear what man 
shall do unto me. — Hebrews, xiii: 6. 
December 16. 
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to- 
day, and for ever. — Hebrews, xiii: 8. 
December 17. 
It is a good thing that the heart be estab- 
lished with grace. — Hebrews, xiii: 9. 
December 18. 
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask 
of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and 
upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. — 
James, i: 5. 

December 19. 
Blessed is the man that endureth tempta- 
tion: for when he is tried, he shall receive 
the crown of life, which the Lord hath prom- 
ised to them that love him. — James, i: 12. 
December 20. 
Every good gift and every perfect gift 
is from above, and cometh down from the 
Father of lights, with whom is no variable- 
ness, neither shadow of turning. — James, i : 17. 
December 21. 
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let 
every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, 
slow to wrath. — James, i: 19. 



*■ 



35(( 



351 



352 



353 



354 



355 



* 



* 



428 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■* 



356 



357 



358 



35!) 



3(50 



362 



December 22. 
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, 
and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of 
all. — James, ii: 10. 

December 23. 
Even so the tongue is a little member, 
and boasteth great things. Behold, how 
great a matter a little fire kindleth! — James, 
iii: 5. 

December 24. 
Out of the same mouth proceedeth bless- 
ing and cursing. My brethren, these things 
ought not so to be. — James, iii: 10. 
December 25. 
But the wisdom that is from above is 
first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to 
be entreaxed, full of mercy and good fruits, 
without partiality, and without hypocrisy.— 
James, iii: 17. ( 

December 26. 
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw 
nigh to you. — James iv: 8. 

December 27. 
The effectual fervent prayer of a right- 
eous man availeth much. — James, v: 16. 
December 28. 
But as he which hath called you is holy. 



* 



* 



*■ 



WILL S BIBLE. 



* 



429 



so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. 
— I. Peter, i: 15. 

December 29. 

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not 
redeemed with corruptible thing's, as silver 
and gold, from your vain conversation re- 
ceived by tradition from your fathers, but 
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a 
lamb without blemish and without spot. — I. 
Peter, i: 18, 19. 

December 30. 

Casting all your care upon him; for he 
careth for you. — I. Peter, v: 7. 
December 31. 

Now unto him that is able to keep you 
from falling, and to present you faultless 
before the presence of his glory with exceed- 
ing joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be 
glory and majesty, dominion and power, 
both now and ever. Amen. — Jude, 24. 25. 



hi;.- 



f/f 



430 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



■ffi 



Other 
reading. 



* 



Aside from the numerous note -books, in 
which, in his neat hand, are found references 
to the subject matter of the text he was 
perusing, and suggestions of further study, 
other records of his reading are found in 
carefully- marked passages of books with 
which he seemed to have choice fellowship. 
One such book was "The Blood of Jesus," by 
Rev. William Reid, M. A. Some of these 
marked passages are here given: 

" In reference to the pardon of your sins, 
there is no time to be lost. 

"The true gospel of God is, that when 
any one belonging to our sinful world feels 
his sin to be oppressive, and comes straight 
to the 'Lamb of God' with it, and frankly 
acknowledges it, and tells out his anxieties 
regarding it, and his desire to get rid of it, 
he will find that Jesus has both the power 
and the will to take it away. 

"You are as welcome to Christ now as 
you will ever be. Wait not for deeper con- 
viction of sin; for why should you prefer 
convictions of sin to Christ? And you would 
not have one iota more safety, although you 
had deeper convictions of sin than any sinner 
ever had. 



* 



* 



will's bible. 



■© 



431 



"Well, here is the Bible — your invitation 
to come to Christ. It does not bear your 
name and address, but it says, ' Whosoever ' 

— that takes you in; it says, 'AlV — that 
takes you in; it says, 'If any' — that takes 
you in. 

"For the question is not, Will you re- 
move these evils and then come to Christ? 
but, Will you have a Christ to remove them 
for you? 

"Jesus, and Jesus only, is the object on 
which your anxious eyes must rest, for peace 
with God and a change of heart. 

"Our conscience may well find settled 
rest where God's holiness finds rest. 

" 'Looking unto Jesus,' — Hebrews, xii: 2 

— is the most refreshing exercise in which 
we can engage; and the shortest road to 
genuine spiritual revival is by the cross of 
Calvary. 

"The reason why many real christians 
are harassed with doubt, fear, and darkness, 
is, that they leave off leaning entirely upon 
their beloved Savior, and rest part of the 
weight of their souls' eternal well-being on 
their own experience." 



>fr 



Marked 
passage*. 



■m 



w- 



* 



432 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Old Testa- 
ment se- 
lections 
classified. 



OLD TESTAMENT. 

Blessings of trusting in the Lord — 33, 44, 45, 

46, 49, 57, 58, 75, 76, 78 to 83, 93, 94, 102. 

114, 118, 131, 135, 142, 143, 167, 174, 175, 

176, 180, 187, 197, 228. 
Comfort in affliction — 16, 17, 19, 21, 64, 141, 

149, 150, 168, 207, 208. 
Comforting promises — 9 to 15, 22, 43, 48, 70, 

97, 127, 147, 158, 162, 164, 165, 166, 169, 172, 

182, 191, 194, 196. 
Confidence in God — 7, 27, 28, 32, 37, 190, 203. 

206. 
Contentment — 105, 111. 
Each one personally responsible to God — 3, 

107, 189, 213, 214. 
Exhortation to christian labor — 4, 8, 125, 126, 

230. 
Friendship — 115, 116, 117. 
God hears prayer — 35, 61, 62, 140, 148, 155. 

156, 183, 192, 193. 
Humility— 36, 59, 77, 106, 121, 185, 227. 
Littleness of man — 24, 159, 160, 161, 163. 
Obedience to parents — 69. 
Omniscience and majesty of God — 1, 26, 41, 

52 to 56, 89, 104, 179, 195, 198, 199, 210. 
Patience — 205. 



*■ 



•►& 



►4 



+:* 



WILL S BIBLE. 



433 



Pleasures of religion — 30, 31, 47, 65, 73, 74, 

87, 108, 181. 
Practical religion — 2, 84, 99, 109. 
Praise the Lord — 66. 
Presence of God — 18, 186. 
Proverbs — 88, 95, 101, 110, 112, 113, 122, 124. 
Punishment of the wicked— 29, 42, 63, 98, 

138, 139, 145, 215, 224. 
Pest— 20, 23, 144, 146, 151. 
Rewards of the righteous — 119, 128, 211, 212, 

216, 217, 231. 
Seek the Lord— 5, 34, 68, 85, 86, 90 to 92, 96, 

177, 178, 204, 219, 222, 223, 225, 226, 229. 
Sinfulness of man— 25, 123, 188. 
Study the Scriptures— 6, 67, 71, 72, 221. 
The everlasting kingdom — 60, 120. 
Miscellaneous— 132 to 134, 136, 137, 152 to 154, 

157, 171, 184, 200, 201, 202, 209, 218, 220. 



* 



* 



*■ 



434 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



* 



New Test- 
ament se- 
lections 
classified. 



NEW TESTAMENT. 

Be patient— 267, 342. 

Be thankful— 308, 321. 

Be watchful— 254, 268, 337, 357, 358. 

Christian excellence— 234, 265, 286, 287, 289, 

311, 316, 318, 319, 323, 325, 332, 334, 340, 

344, 347, 351, 355, 362, 363. 
Christian joy — 307, 320. 
Christian labor— 232, 241, 250, 255, 256, 291, 

299, 304, 334, 341. 
Confession — 284. 
Confidence in God— 237, 260, 288, 300, 324, 

349. 
Faith in Christ — 275, 282, 305, 339. 
Giving— 259, 309. 
Glory of God — 274, 326. 

God hears prayer— 245, 248, 253, 352, 360, 361. 
Humility— 301, 302. 
Jesus exalted — 278, 279, 317, 350, 365. 
Judgment — 294. 

Obedience to God — 277, 303, 338, 356. 
Practical religion — 236, 243, 247, 266, 280, 315, 

329, 359. 
Prayer— 320. 

Presence of Christ— 246, 251. 
Proverbs — 242, 290. 



* 



: 



5<- 



■* 



will's bible. 



435 



Responsibility and privilege — 264. 

Rest — 239, 240, 312, 335, 336. 

Resurrection — 293, 314. 

Search the Scriptures — 270. 

Seek the Lord— 263, 327. 

Servant of sin — 271. 

Triumphs of the gospel — 257, 258. 

Trials of the christian — 281, 283, 331, 353, 

364. 
Trust in the Lord — 262, 313, 343, 345, 346, 

348. 
Miscellaneous — 233, 235, 238, 244, 249, 252, 

261, 269, 272, 273, 276, 285, 292, 295, 296, 

297, 298, 306,_310, 322, 328, 354. 



fifr 



* 



gl ft 



CHAPTER XII. 



CONCLUSION. 



Lkt us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and 
keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For 
God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, 
whether it be good, or whether it be evil. — Feci F.siastf.s, xii: 13, 14. 



q<— % 



*■ 



CONCLUSION. 



^ 



439 



fT now remains to bring this Memoir to a 
„ close. To the fond parents it has been a 
pleasure thus to live over the past; but alas! 
with the end of the work comes again the 
keen sense of loss, the unsatisfied longing 
for — 

"The touch of the vanished hand, 
And the sound of the voice that is still." 

But they comfort themselves with the belief 
that the life they were permitted to give to 
the world, so useful here, cannot but be more 
useful there, whither his Lord has taken 
him. That they shall see him again, they 
know; that the time of their separation can- 
not be long, they are admonished. In the 
beautiful imagery of Longfellow, they can 
say— 

"Good night! Good night! as we so oft have said 
Beneath this roof at midnight, in the days 
That are no more, and shall no more return. 
Thou hast but taken thy lamp and gone to bed; 
I stay a little longer, as one stays 
To cover up the embers that still burn." 

But with the hope that this brief and 
imperfect sketch of the life and character 
of one so faithful as a son, so true as a 



*■ 



Closing- 
remarks. 



Consola- 
tion. 



Admoni- 
tion. 



* 



* 



* 



440 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY 



May liis 
deeds live 
after him. 



Secrets of 
success. 



Unfalter- 
ing devo- 
tion. 



christian, may be helpful in the formation 
of the character of the young, we send it 
forth with the prayer, that he, being dead, 
may yet speak. 

If asked, What was the secret of his 
successful career? we should mention two 
things: First, the fact that it was always 
with him, Christ to live. "What hast thou 
done for Christ to-day?" indicates the con- 
stancy with which he kept the true object 
of life before him. Secondly, his abiding 
faith, that his Savior would always be with 
him. Had the Son of man audibly assured 
him — "I will never leave thee, nor forsake 
thee" — the conviction of its precious truth 
would not have been stronger, or deeper, or 
more influential on his life and conduct, than 
it was. Under the inspiration of these two 
incentives, from the hour when, in the enthu- 
siasm of his new life, he wrote to his mother 
of his conversion to Christ, to the day of his 
death, he pursued his way, and faltered not 
in all the journey — faltered not, not because 
of his own inherent strength, but because his 
trust in his Savior was the victory which 
overcometh the world. 

To this we may add the fact, that he 



*■ 



R- 



■© 



CONCLUSION. 



441 



* 



constantly sought for the most intelligent 
view of such a life of devotion to Christ, 
and of trust. He was, in a large sense, an 
educated christian. That he might be con- 
trolled, not by mere impulses, or repose in 
false security, he constantly searched the 
Scriptures, for in them he thought he had 
eternal life, and they, he knew, bore testi- 
mony of Christ. Thus, whether at home, 
with the conveniences of study at hand, or 
abroad, tenting among the Indians of the 
wilderness, the mountains, and valleys, with 
few such helps, he made his Bible his con- 
stant companion. Over its pages he bent 
in devout study and meditation; into its 
deep mines of thought he entered, to come 
forth loaded with its priceless treasures. Of 
its grace, and mercy, and peace he freely 
received, that he might freely give. Behold 
in these things, then, the secret of his life. 

To the questionings of distrust and un- 
rest, which would seek the reason for the 
early close of an earthly career so beautiful 
and useful, we can only reply: In the first 
place, the timeliness or untimeliness of death 
is not to be judged by length of years, but by 
the realization or loss of the great end of 

55 



Educated 
chi'istian. 



Question- 
ings of 
distrust. 



£B 



■* 



442 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Prepara- 
tion for 
eternity. 



Favorite 
quotation. 



Living- 
voice. 



earthly existence — preparation for eternity. 
In the second place, usefulness is not to be 
measured by the opportunities and possibili- 
ties of earth alone, but by those of heaven 
also. If, to be prepared for eternity, is to 
come to a timely death, then must we regard 
his death as most timely; if to be useful, is 
an end of our being, then has he truly at- 
tained that end, since to him the Lord has 
said, "Come up higher! " In his own favorite 
quotation of the words of "Festus" (Bailey), 
whose truth he so beautifully illustrated in 
his life — 

" He most lives 
Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best." 

And now, little book, embalming the life 
and character of this darling son and christ- 
ian for "a life beyond life," go on your mis- 
sion, to teach by the printed page, as did 
he by the living voice, the helpful, helping 
hand, and the conscious and unconscious 
influence, that there is no true manhood, 
no real nobility, save that which is with 
Christ in God, and that such a manhood is 
freely offered to all in the gospel. 



*■ 



JISIIOP ITEBER. 



1 IIo - 

2 IIo - 

3 IIo - 



iy, 
iy, 

— i- 



*£Ol>TO> 



TV. S STICKNET. 



ho - 
ho - 
ho - 



Lp_^ (SO * 



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iy, 
iy, 



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Lord God al - might - y ! 
thourh the dark-ness hide Ihce, 



m 



Lord God al 
J— J J J 



miavht - v ! 



l yfeu— 1- 



I I 



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-^ &i , — — — ** 

Ear-ly in the iiiom-ing our song 
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glo 



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I I ! 

shali rise to Thee. 
ry may not sec, 
ill Thy won:s shall praise Thy namedn earth, and sky, and sea ; 

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God in three per 

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* 



■* 



% : & 



INDEX. 



^ gt 



*■ 



446 



* 



MEMOIR OF W. S. STICKNEY. 



Ancestors, 13. 

Anderson, Prest. Martin B. 54, 349. 

Baptized, 40. 

Becomes a christian, 38. 

Be kind to the poor, 20. 

Berta, 22. 

Bible reading, 47, 363. 

Birth, 13. 

Boston, 47. 

Brooks, James J. 354. 

Burial, 297. 

Business College, 127. 

Calculus, 73, 84. 

California, 170. 

Calvary Baptist Sunday School, 7, 338. 

Calvary Christian League, 137. 

Calvary Mission Sunday School, 249. 

255, 284, 302, 340. 
Cash account, 23, 71. 
China Town, 170. 
Christmas, 205. 

Chorister, 73. 

Christian student, 56. 

Church subscription, 18. 

Church troubles, 231. 

College Societies, 50, 75. 

Colored children, 17. 

Compositions, 19, 20. 

Conscientiousness, 14. 

Cornish miners, 271. 

Covenant Band, 343. 

Cruelties, 279. 

Deaf and Dumb Institution, 13. 

Death, 293. 

Del Norte, 272. 

Denver, 269. 



*- 



Early letters, 21. 

Early Sunday School efforts, 17. 

East Avenue Church, 55. 

Emilie, 22. 

Examinations, 82. 

Expenses, 77. 

First ballot, 97. 

First earnings, 18. 

Florence, 34. 

Fondness for books, 19. 

Foreign Lands, 27. 

Funeral, 301. 

Geography, 21. 

Good-bye, 264. 

Graduation, 121. 

Greene, Rev. Samuel H. 307. 

Home again, 31. 

Hornets, 24. 

Hot Springs, 270. 

Immortality, 63. 

Indian Council, 187. 

Indian dance, 195. 

Italian language, 29. 

Jerusalem, 29. 

Jewish Synagogue, 81. 

Jones, Thomas R. 297. 

Kendall, Amos, 13, 40, 42. 

Kendall, City of, 13. 

Kendall Chapel, 7, 345. 

Last letter home, 281. 

Last words to his Sunday School, 261. 

Latin and Greek, 49. 

Latin commenced, 19. 

Law profession, 247. 

Law School, 127, 135. 



* 



* 



INDEX. 



447 



* 



Letter to his grandfather, 22. 

Life, 19. 

Looneyville, 60. 

Los Finos, 275, 276, 280, 281. 

Luzerne, 100. 

Meeker, N. C. 211. 

Methodical habits, 23. 

Moral courage, 15. 

Morehouse, Rev. H. L. 321. 

Mormons, 168. 

Morrill, Lot M. 358. 

Music — Rodney, 443. 

Musical talent, 17. 

Niagara Falls, 119. 

Oak Hill Cemetery, 303. 

Obedience to parents, 14. 

Oration, 122. 

Ossian, 85. 

Palestine, 30. 

Philadelphia private school, 37, 44. 

Physical and Mental Organization, 18 

Piano lessons, 17, 29. 

Prayer, 15. 

Presents, 69, 107, 115. 

Reading, 117. 

Relief Commission, 139. 

Rio Grande Valley, 155. 

Rittenhouse Academy, 17, 37. 

Rochester University, 44. 

Rockville, Ct. 23 

Sabbath observance, 33, 278. 



Sapovoneri, 117. 

Senior, 113. 

Serenading, 51. 

Sermon on the Mount, 16. 

Sickness, 18, 38, 70, 289. 

Society, 95. 

Southport, Ct. 46. 

St. Louis, 266. 

Studies, 116. 

Sunday occupation, 285. 

Sunday School, 37, 45, 58, 73, 111. 

Superintendents' Union, 347. 

Taylor, Lev/is Rodney, 261, 297. 

Thanksgiving, 60, 108. 

The youthful teacher, 17. 

Tour abroad, 27. 

Typhoid fever, 18. 

Ute Commission — First, 151. 

Ute Commission — Report, 208. 

Ute Commission — Second, 259, 359. 

Valedictory, 128. 

Watch Hill, 250. 

Waterloo, N. H. 103. 

Webster, Daniel, 13. 

Welling, Prest, James C. 332, 351. 

Western travel, 152. 

White River Utes, 213. 

Whittier, 11. 

Wordsworth, 11. 

Y. M. C. A. 99, 113, 114. 

Young people's meeting, 263. 



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